Released: 01/30/2006
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christine Hogan 541-484-1466
Recent efforts by two community entities have made it possible for the local First Book Board to reach even more families in their campaign against illiteracy.
Arlie & Company, the Eugene based real estate development and investment company, has joined First Book to fight illiteracy in Lane County. Recently, Suzanne Arlie of Arlie & Company hosted a unique Magic Carpet party and raised $13,000 through the sale of exquisite Turkish rugs. This will provide 5200 books for local disadvantaged children. Five hundred twenty children will receive 10 new books throughout the school year to keep and take home to their families from agencies such as Relief Nursery/ Healthy Start, Smart and Committed Partners for Youth.
Another great boost to First Book‘s local campaign against illiteracy came from Eugenean, Mike Dilley of Producers Studio. Dilley donated his talent and expertise and produced First Book On Parade, a promotional DVD that will be used to share the mission of First Book in Lane County for the purpose of public awareness and for raising funds. A thousand copies of the DVD were next made possible through other generous donations. Dilley’s labor of love, (dedicated to the welfare of children in our community), is invaluable in helping First Book get community support for ending illiteracy.
The lack of access to books is one of the leading causes of illiteracy in children. Sixty one percent of low-income families have no books for children in their homes, and more than 80 percent of the preschool and after-school programs serving at-risk children have no books at all, according to the U.S. Department of Education. First Book Eugene/Springfield is working to change that in this community.
About First Book
The mission of First Book is to support existing literacy programs in Lane County by getting books into the homes of children who have no books of their own. Since 1996 First Book’s local volunteer advisory board has raised enough money in the community to provide nearly 70, 000 books to 30 different literacy organizations.
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