Millions Celebrate Reading Together As Part of Scholastic Read for 2004
CINCINNATI (December 5, 2003) - First Lady Hope Taft has signed on to be an Ambassador of Reading for Ohio, as part of the fifth annual Scholastic Read For 2004 global classroom reading initiative. On Friday, December 5, 2003, Read For 2004 Day, the First Lady led a statewide celebration of reading, and encouraged all children, teachers and parents to take time during the day to read a book. Mrs. Taft showed her commitment to reading by celebrating with children and donating 500 books from Scholastic Book Clubs to schools in Cincinnati. Read For 2004 was created by Scholastic, the global children's publishing and media company, to generate excitement about reading in schools and homes around the world.
"Literacy has always been an issue that knows no politics, which is why
I am so proud to be a co-chair and an Ambassador of Reading for the Scholastic
Read for 2004 reading campaign," stated First Lady Taft. "Reading
helps build better lives and all children across Ohio and the entire nation
deserve to experience the joy of reading a book."
Joining First Lady Taft in the Read For 2004 reading celebration were Gubernatorial
First Spouses in states across the country. Last year, 31 First Spouses participated
in Scholastic Read For 2003 and led their states in exciting and inspirational
reading events. Read For 2003 proved to be a huge success, with more than 27,000
classrooms and 5 million students in over 60 countries worldwide participating.
"Scholastic Read For 2004 encourages classrooms and communities to join together to share the magic, excitement and fun that reading offers," said Dick Robinson, Chairman, President, and CEO of Scholastic. "We are thankful for the participation of the Gubernatorial First Spouses who will help spread the message of the importance of reading to children in their states. With Mrs. Taft's support, December 5th will be a wonderful celebration of reading in Ohio."
Since its inception in 1999, the Scholastic "Read For" initiative has connected children across cultures and continents from North America (all 50 states in the U.S., Canada, Cuba, Mexico) to south America (Brazil), Europe (France, Germany, Iceland, Hungary, Norway, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom) to Asia (China, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand), Africa (Angola, Ghana) to Australia and New Zealand. Classrooms around the globe will be connected through the Read For 2004 world map, www.scholastic.com/ReadFor2004, which highlights all participating classrooms.
National Broadcasting Company (NBC) and American Airlines will support Scholastic Read For 2004 by raising awareness for the global read-a-thon and spreading the message of the importance of reading through their various channels. In addition to the U.S. Gubernatorial Spouses, American Airlines' pilots will visit classrooms across the country to read to children on December 5, 2003.
For more information about Scholastic Read For 2004, and to view the world map of participating counties, book lists for children, reading tips for parents and a list of all the Ambassadors of Reading, visit www.Scholastic.com/ReadFor2004.
Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books. Scholastic creates quality educational and entertaining materials and products for use in school and hat home, including children's books, magazines, technology-based products, teacher materials, television programming, videos and toys. The Company distributes its products and services through a variety of channels, including proprietary school-based book clubs, school-based book fairs, school-based and direct-to-home continuity programs; retail stores, schools, libraries, and television networks; and the Company's Internet Site, www.scholastic.com.
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For more information, contact Marcie Seidel, First Lady's office, (614) 995-2000.