First Book Canada, Pi Beta Phi, and the University of St. Michael's College provide books to kids in need in Toronto

TORONTO, Ontario (March 7, 2019) – First Book Canada, Pi Beta Phi, and the University of St. Michael's College held the first Pop Up Book Distribution at the University of Toronto campus earlier this week. First Book Canada distributed over 20,000 books to kids and organizations serving kids in need within the Greater Toronto Area. This event was also celebrated with a Reading Celebration at Kelly Cafe in the University of St. Michael's College Library with grade 1 and 2 students from Rose Avenue Junior Public School. The Reading Celebration included guest children's author Cinders McLeod who spoke aboutSpend It!. The students who attended this Reading Celebration each received a copy ofSpend It!in addition to three more books to take home for their personal library. Through the partnership between First Book Canada, Pi Beta Phi, and the University of St. Michael's College, kids in the Greater Toronto Area have direct access to quality reading material – a crucial resource in the development of reading skills to support their academic goals. Though books and educational resources are critical, they are scarce for many children attending high-needs schools. Access to adequate resources is the single greatest contributor to educational inequity, but recent research identified vast 'book deserts' concentrated in high-needs communities. In a poll of the First Book Canada network, 88 per cent of respondents reported that resources from First Book Canada help to close the achievement gap for the kids they serve.About First Book CanadaBy making new, high quality books and educational resources available on an ongoing basis, First Book Canada is transforming the lives of children and elevating the quality of education in the country. Since 2009, First Book Canada has distributed over 7 million new books to hundreds of thousands of children in need across Canada. For more information, or to register for books, visit us atfirstbookcanada.organd follow our latest news onTwitter,Facebook,Instagram, andLinkedIn.

Media Contact:

Calyssa Erb, Communications Coordinator, First Book Canadacerb@firstbook.org866.732.3669 ext. 4383 ###