MEDIA ADVISORY: Reach Out and Read Community Book Drive

March 12, 2010

WHAT:
Nationwide Children’s Hospital Reach Out and Read Program Community Book Drive Celebration

WHEN:
Friday, March 12, 2010
1 p.m. – media opportunity

WHERE:
East Franklin Elementary
1955 Richmond Rd.
Columbus, Ohio
(614) 801-8100

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
With more than 4,500 Reach Out and Read Programs nationwide, Nationwide Children’s Hospital is proud to be among the largest. Each year, Nationwide Children’s, along with community partners, hold a three-month community-wide book drive collecting new and gently used books to raise literacy awareness throughout central Ohio. It is through the generous support of the community that enables Nationwide Children’s physicians and staff to encourage family literacy in the home prior to a child’s entrance into the school system.

The event Friday at East Franklin Elementary will celebrate a successful 2010 book drive which continues through March 31. Since its inception in 1998, more than 900,000 books have been distributed by the Reach Out Read Program.

During the celebration, students at East Franklin Elementary will enjoy a story by Lyn Ford and a performance from the school’s choir. Students will be engaged in literacy awareness as they share their favorite books and characters with fellow students and audience guests. The Chiller Ice Rinks will announce two winners from each class for an ice skating field trip. Half Price Books will dedicate a book cart and books to the school. Book collection sites and guidelines can be found at NationwideChildrens.org/ReachOutAndRead.

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CONTACT PRIOR TO EVENT:
Mary Ellen Peacock
Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Marketing and Public Relations
(614) 355-0495

CONTACT AT EVENT:
Claudia Barrett
Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Reach Out and Read Program
(614) 406-7525

About Nationwide Children's Hospital

Named to the Top 10 Honor Roll on U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-24 list of “Best Children’s Hospitals,” Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of America’s largest not-for-profit free-standing pediatric health care systems providing unique expertise in pediatric population health, behavioral health, genomics and health equity as the next frontiers in pediatric medicine, leading to best outcomes for the health of the whole child. Integrated clinical and research programs, as well as prioritizing quality and safety, are part of what allows Nationwide Children’s to advance its unique model of care. Nationwide Children’s has a staff of more than 14,000 that provides state-of-the-art wellness, preventive and rehabilitative care and diagnostic treatment during more than 1.7 million patient visits annually. As home to the Department of Pediatrics of The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Nationwide Children’s physicians train the next generation of pediatricians and pediatric specialists. The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of the Top 10 National Institutes of Health-funded free-standing pediatric research facilities. More information is available at NationwideChildrens.org.