Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

Golden Books Donates 10,000 Books To New York City Charity

"Reading is one of the most valuable skills a child can have," Mayor Giuliani said. "Encouraging children to read and fostering the habit and pleasure of reading can be one of the most important and rewarding things we can do for their futures."

"The Golden Books Read-In is a wonderful way to encourage our children to discover the magic of books. I want to thank Golden Books and Pizza Hut's Book It Program, which are sponsoring the event in various cities, including New York, for their commitment to the education and growth of our children," the Mayor added.

Joining the Mayor were Deputy Mayor for Education and Human Services Ninfa Segarra; Golden Books Chief Operating Officer Rich Collins; the Director of Pizza Hut's National Reading Program Eunice Ellis; and the Master of Ceremonies for the Read-In event in New York, broadcast journalist Deborah Norville.

The events related to the Read-In are aimed to encourage reading and promote family literacy. Participation in the Read-In events is free to the public and every child who attends will receive a free copy of Golden Books' title The Poky Little Puppy, the best-selling children's book of all time.

By the end of the year 2000, Golden Books will donate one million books to schools, hospitals and literacy organizations in several cities, including New York. Thanks to Golden Books' offer to contribute to a charity of the Mayor's choice, the New York Housing Authority's Partners In Reading Program, which pairs young children with older adults for after-school reading tutoring, will receive a donation of 10,000 books.

Deputy Mayor for Education and Human Services Ninfa Segarra said, "I want to thank Golden Books for the invaluable contribution it is making to the minds and spirits of hundreds of New York City children. Reading is a vital tool for success, and this is a gift that will be enjoyed and appreciated by many young New Yorkers. Partners in Reading gives children the opportunity to advance and explore, and senior citizens the opportunity to be useful."

"At Golden Books, we believe that the family that reads together, succeeds together," said Rich Collins of Golden Books Family Entertainment, Inc. "As a society, we need to show today's children that reading is fun and is the key to a successful future."

Golden Books Family Entertainment, Inc. is the leading children's book publisher in North America. The Company owns one of the world's largest libraries of family entertainment copyrights and creates, publishes and markets entertainment products for children and families through all media.

Additional information about the Big Little Golden Books Read In can be found on the Golden Books website, www.goldenbooks.com.