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Hoge Fenton, Rotary Club of San Jose and San Jose USD Partner with Book Trust to Bring Books to Kids in Need

By Hoge Fenton | 04.13.2017 | Firm Post

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Community Partnership Brings National Literacy Organization to Empire Gardens Elementary

Denver, CO, April 4, 2017 – National literacy nonprofit Book Trust has joined community partners Rotary Club of San Jose and the law firm, Hoge Fenton, to bring its program to nearly 100 first, second and third graders at Empire Gardens Elementary School in San Jose. Book Trust helps students in need celebrate reading and choose and own 1-3 books every month of the school year, building personal libraries of up to 30 books a year for each child.

“Hoge Fenton has a proud commitment to community service, and Book Trust truly is a service to our local children,” says Grace Carr Lee, Executive Director and project champion. “Many of us were privileged to grow up with unlimited access to books. Unfortunately, many of these kids just don’t have access to books outside of school. Book Trust not only provides books, they let the kids choose their own books – which they get to keep forever – and teachers celebrate those choices and the importance of reading with them.”

“Rotary Club of San Jose is equally proud to play a role in bringing Book Trust to Empire Gardens,” adds Cindy Faulkner, Rotary’s current president. “We know how important reading at grade level is to graduation rates, and if we can help kids learn to love reading, we’re giving a gift that lasts a lifetime.”

Each organization and Empire Gardens Elementary contributed funds to bring Book Trust to the school, at a cost of just $100 per child for the year. In addition, each organization coordinates with teachers to bring volunteers in to celebrate book deliveries and read with the kids. “It’s just one of the most joyous experiences I’ve had,” says Ms. Lee. “We get to pop in, hand out brand new books, and read with these wonderful kids. Attorneys and staff eagerly participate, and we can see the value our contribution has brought to their classroom. It’s just amazing.”

Book Trust is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, and currently serves 50,000 elementary school students in nineteen states, including over 5500 students in the Bay Area and has the ability to bring the program to virtually any classroom in the country due to its partnership with Scholastic Reading Club. Schools interested in bringing Book Trust to their students can request to be put on the waitlist by visiting the website: www.booktrust.org. Interested community partners who would like to fund the program in their local schools can contact Linda Mitchell directly at lmitchell@booktrust.org or 720.259.8048.


About Book Trust
Book Trust is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower children from low-income families to choose and own books, inspiring a passion for reading that leads to cultivating increased literacy skills and life-long learning. Since 2001, Book Trust has facilitated over 6 million book choices, and placed them in the hands of students in need.

About Hoge Fenton
Hoge Fenton is a multi-service law firm, with focused practitioners who can meet nearly all our clients’ needs — under one roof. Our lawyers are dedicated to excellence in their specific areas of practice, and do not dabble. The breadth of expertise within the firm means that one of our professionals can simply walk down the hall and speak with other subject matter experts, providing our clients with a high value experience.

About Rotary Club of San Jose
The Rotary Club of San Jose was established in 1914 as a leadership organization with 450 members working together to make a difference, which include local business, professional and civic leaders. They have provided over three million hours of community service, and the Foundation has given over $5 million in direct community grants. Service above self is the organizations motto. Rotary is an organization of 1.2 million united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build goodwill and peace in the world.

CONTACT BOOK TRUST:
Amy Friedman, CEO
720.459.6491
afriedman@booktrust.org
www.booktrust.org

For the Original Press Release, Click Here.

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