Nation's Largest Reading Incentive Program Launches Campaign for Alumni to Reconnect and Give Back to Future Readers
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE via COLLEGIATE PRESSWIRE)--Nov. 14, 2006--As part of National Young Reader's Day, BOOK IT!(R) today launched an alumni initiative that offers past program participants a chance to wax nostalgic while giving to a worthy cause.
BOOK IT! readers from yesteryear can visit www.bookitprogram.com/alumni to reconnect with other readers, post memories about their favorite book and even purchase a T-shirt with the original, 1980's BOOK IT! logo. In partnership with First Book, a nonprofit literacy organization, one book will be donated to a child in need for every BOOK IT! T-shirt that is purchased.
"There are millions upon millions of people that have participated in BOOK IT! in the last 21 years," said Leslie Tubbs, director of the BOOK IT! program. "We have many people write to us about their BOOK IT! memories and how the program inspired them to read more. In fact, some past participants are now parents of children who are enrolled in the program. As we celebrate National Young Reader's Day, we wanted to create a program that allows the young at heart a chance to relive their BOOK IT! days while encouraging future readers."
In conjunction with the Library of Congress Center for the Book, BOOK IT! established National Young Reader's Day 15 years ago as an annual reminder of the benefits and rewards of reading, with the mission of encouraging parents across the country to take time to experience the fun and pleasure of reading as a family.
As the nation's largest reading incentive program, nearly one million classrooms and approximately 23 million students will participate in BOOK IT! this year. Since September, the program has donated more than 10,000 high-quality books to communities across the country. BOOK IT!(R) rewards students with praise, recognition and Pizza Hut pizza for their reading accomplishments.
About BOOK IT!(R)
In 1985, Pizza Hut established the BOOK IT! National Reading Incentive Program to motivate children to read more and help them develop a lifelong love of reading. BOOK IT! is a six-month program for students in kindergarten through sixth grade. For more information, visit www.bookitprogram.com.
About Pizza Hut(R)
As the world's largest pizza restaurant company with almost 6,600 restaurants in the United States and more than 4,000 restaurants in 100 other countries, Pizza Hut, Inc., a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM) has been the place families have gathered for 48 years. The company's legacy of leadership and innovation has made it the recognized leader in the $37 billion pizza category. Those hungry for more information can go to the official Pizza Hut Web site at www.pizzahut.com.
About First Book
First Book is an international nonprofit organization with a single mission: to give children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books. First Book has provided more than 46 million new books to children in need in thousands of communities nationwide. For more information about First Book, please visit www.FirstBook.org or call 866-393-1222.
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