Domtar, Montreal, Que., Canada, and First Book, Washington, D.C., USA, a nonprofit social enterprise that provides new books to children in need announced the expansion of their partnership for literacy. The next phase of collaboration will help bring 60,000 brand-new, high-quality books to kids from low-income families across North America.
The Powerful Pages campaign will include "library makeover" grants to 14 schools and programs in U.S. towns that are home to Domtar mills and to eight similar organizations in Domtar host communities and area First Nation communities in Canada. These grants will give educators the funds to purchase an estimated 600 brand-new books through the First Book Marketplace, a website available exclusively to First Book programs.
"Domtar's commitment to kids in need in their communities is exemplary," said Kyle Zimmer, president and CEO of First Book. "We learned how dedicated they were when we worked together last year, and we're thrilled to expand our partnership to reach so many more children with the books and resources they need."
Paige Goff, Domtar's VP of Sustainability and Business Communications, said that "investing in the economic and social development of our host communities, and literacy efforts in particular, is a cornerstone of our sustainable business commitment at Domtar. We are honored to be able to support First Book's laudable efforts to get new books in the hands of young readers who otherwise would be going without."
In addition to the "library makeover" grants, Domtar is funding one hundred smaller grants as an incentive for local schools and programs in communities that are home to Domtar employees to sign up with First Book. These grants will give the new members of First Book's network the funds to select around 125 new books from the First Book Marketplace for their students. The campaign also includes support for a national distribution of new books. Domtar will underwrite the shipping costs for 45,000 donated books that will go to educators and program leaders serving kids in need across North America as part of First Book's ongoing National Book Bank program.
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