For Immediate Release
August 30, 2005
Contacts:
703-324-8313
703-324-8300
Sponsors Gave More Than $1 Million To Library’s Summer Reading Program
Fairfax, VA - The Potomac Nationals Baseball Club, a Carolina League Affiliate of the Washington Nationals, joined local businesses, Friends of the Library and many other sponsors to encourage Fairfax County children to read during summer vacation. More than 25 organizations donated more than $1 million worth of prizes to kids who finished reading the required number of books. Other sponsors, like Cox Communications, donated prizes through the Fairfax Library Foundation for a special drawing that will be held in September.
“This program aligns with Cox’s core values, which support youth and education in our community,” says Gary McCollum, vice president and region manager of Cox Northern Virginia. “Reading is a cornerstone in gaining a strong education, so we are truly proud to be part of this very special initiative.”
“Sponsorships bring incentives that attract young readers to the 2005 program, which ends September 3,” says Bobbi Longworth, executive director of the library foundation. Longworth threw the ceremonial first pitch at the at Potomac Nationals game on August 23 at Pfitzer Stadium in Woodbridge, Virginia in recognition of their support of the library’s Summer Reading Program. The team donated tickets to Potomac Nationals games to Summer Reading Program participants.
In addition to prizes for reading, kids were treated to live performances by actors, musicians, dancers, puppeteers and storytellers in library branches throughout the summer. These events were free to the public and underwritten by the Friends of the George Mason Regional Library with a donation of $30,000. Also underwriting the summer activities were the Friends of the Kings Park Library with a $5,000 donation, and the Friends of the Fairfax City Regional Library with a $3,500 donation. Other Friends groups also contributed towards library programs, and each branch's Friends group purchased four $25 Borders gift cards to be used for the special drawing after the Summer Reading Program ends.