Printer Friendly Format Email a Friend


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 353-07
October 2, 2007

MAYOR BLOOMBERG AND THE FUND FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS KICK OFF FOURTH ANNUAL "SHOP FOR CLASS"

Citywide Retail Promotion to Benefit New York City's Public School Libraries Runs From October 3 Through October 19

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Department of Education Chancellor Joel I. Klein and The Fund for Public Schools Vice-Chair Caroline Kennedy today kicked off the fourth annual "Shop for Class" retail promotion with a purchase of music at J&R Music & Computer World. From October 3 to 19, over 50 retail locations across the City - including J&R - will be participating in the promotion to raise money for New York City public school libraries. The Mayor was joined by Marcia Caban of American Express, the founding sponsor of Shop for Class, and J&R Co-CEO Rachelle Friedman.

"The Shop for Class program has been invaluable to our schools over the last four years," said Mayor Bloomberg. "Our mission is to provide the best possible education to all of the 1.1 million New York City public school students, and programs like this help provide materials like books, furniture and technology that we need to reach this goal."

"Literacy is essential to improving outcomes for our City's students, and every public school needs a top-notch library to make this happen," said Chancellor Klein. "I thank our partners and the retail community for their dedication to providing students with the tools they need to learn and succeed."

"We are making great strides in New York City's public schools, but The Fund for Public Schools always needs more help to put books into the hands of the students who need them most," said Kennedy. "I want to thank the retail community for showing that there's a way to get everyone involved. I hope all New Yorkers will join in the effort."

Participating retailers, including several members of NYC & Company  - the City's official marketing and tourism organization - will be donating a portion of sales to The Fund for Public Schools' Library REACH (Revitalizing Education for Adolescents and Children) grant program during the two-week promotion.

"NYC & Company encourages New Yorkers and visitors alike to come out and shop for this very important cause," said George Fertitta, CEO of NYC & Company. "It's an easy way to do something good for the city while taking advantage of an exciting array of retail opportunities."

Over the last four years, funds from Shop for Class have generated tens of thousands of book donations and numerous improvements to libraries across the City. The annual promotion is led by The Fund for Public Schools, NYC & Company, founding sponsor American Express, media partner New York magazine and broadcasting partner WNBC Channel 4.

"We are proud to continue our support of the Shop for Class program this year," said Caban. "Giving back to our community is a core value at American Express, and Shop for Class provides important resources for both our schools and our children."

The Fund's Library REACH program is a competitive grant program to which public schools can apply for up to $10,000 to improve their libraries. The Fund has awarded over 100 Library REACH grants to date, benefiting nearly 115,000 New York City public school students. Library REACH supports the Department of Education's goal of providing a quality education to every public school student by helping to transform public school libraries into learning centers for the entire school community.

Since 2004, The Fund has raised close to $3.5M in support of all library programs. Of this private support, $1.1 million, including Shop for Class funds, has been raised for Library REACH.

Shop for Class will also feature several in-store events hosted by participating retailers, providing unique opportunities to support the City's public schools. For a full list of special events and participating retailers, visit nycvisit.com.

About NYC & Company:
NYC & Company is the official marketing and tourism organization for the City of New York, dedicated to maximizing travel and tourism opportunities throughout the five boroughs, building economic prosperity and spreading the positive image of New York City worldwide.

About The Fund for Public Schools:
The Fund for Public Schools is dedicated to improving New York City's public schools by attracting private investment in school reform and encouraging greater involvement by all New Yorkers in the education of our children. The Fund plays a pivotal role in improving public education in New York City by strengthening the New York City Department of Education's relationship with the private sector, securing funding for critical education reform initiatives, helping businesses to create partnerships and programs that support City schools, and raising public awareness about the public schools. The Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. For more information about The Fund for Public Schools, visit fundforpublicschools.org.







MEDIA CONTACT:


John Gallagher/Matthew Kelly   (212) 788-2958

Kimberly Spell   (NYC & Company)
(212) 484-1270

Sunny Larson   (The Fund for Public Schools)
(212) 374-5250




More Resources
View the photos