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For release February 26, 2010

Book Drive for Goodwill Childhood Literacy Program Starts March 1

10 Connects/WTSP-TV, the St. Petersburg Times and WMNF 88.5 FM Community Radio are sponsors of the book drive.

Goodwill’s BookWorks program promotes childhood literacy by putting books into the hands of children who may not otherwise have them. Goodwill volunteers read to groups of preschool children at Head Start centers and other locations and then present each child with a personalized book to take home.

To donate books, attach a note indicating they are “For BookWorks” and drop them off at any Goodwill-Suncoast store or donation site. For store and donation site locations, call toll-free 888-279-1988, or visit www.goodwill-suncoast.org. To volunteer as a reader for the program, call Goodwill Community Relations at 888-279-1988, ext. 1013.

The BookWorks program is designed to instill a love of books and reading in children from low-income households to prepare them to succeed in tomorrow’s workforce. Because early childhood literacy is linked to later employability, BookWorks supports Goodwill-Suncoast’s mission of helping people achieve their full potential through the dignity and power of work.

Goodwill Industries-Suncoast was founded in St. Petersburg, Fla. in 1954 and now serves 10 counties in West Central Florida. The organization's successful donated goods retail operation helps support its human services, including employment services for people with all types of employment barriers, training centers for people with disabilities, affordable apartment communities, and community corrections programs. Goodwill is consistently ranked among the nonprofits most deserving of support based on the high percentage of revenue funneled to its programs. For more information, visit www.goodwill-suncoast.org.