Wednesday, October 10, 2007

FIRST MEETING - Back to School Book Drive to Support Literacy

October 25th Thursday--Joy McCoy's home:
3525 Spicebush Trail--
Tel. 288-9572. 7:00 pm--
Back to School Book Drive for Center of Hope to Support Literacy
Literacy is Pi Beta Phi’s top priority!
This year, once again, our club will be supporting the children & families
at Salvation Army’s Center of Hope.
At our meeting on October 25, we will collect books for all ages,
school supplies (pencils, notebooks, etc.) and toiletries for the families at the Center of Hope.

We will learn more about Pi Phi’s partnership with First Book, an international nonprofit organization founded in 1992 with the mission of giving children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books. The critical factor of whether or not a child becomes a reader is access to books in the home.

Did you know?
30,000,000 adults & millions more children in this country are illiterate
40% of 4th graders in this country lack basic proficiency in reading
School drop-outs earn less than 1/3 the earnings of a college graduate
Health costs for those lacking high school degree are four times higher
¼ of those dropping out of school receive government assistance
80% of prisoners did not finish high school
Illiterate women are likely to be in an abusive relationship
Together we can make a difference. Kyle Zimmer with First Book comments,
"If we change one child at a time…we can change this country forever.”

Goals for this year:
We hope to have a “panty raid” for the children at the Center of Hope.
On March 2, our National Service Day

We plan to have a birthday party for Dr. Seuss at the Center of Hope.
"So keep your eyes open, at least on one side"

Directions To Joy'sTake Westridge Rd. near its intersection with Bryan Blvd. Turn on Smoketree Drive & then take the 1st left--Spicebush Trail..Joy's is# 3525