FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The New Year brings New Things to the Coalition
Pinellas County, FL (January 11, 2016) - The Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County is kicking off the new year with a new look and a new literacy partner!  "We're excited to start this year with the launch of our newly designed website," said Lindsay Carson, Coalition CEO. "We've already been getting some wonderful feedback-it's easier to navigate, aesthetically pleasing, and offers our families and providers most everything they need at their fingertips." 
 
The new site is full of updated content, and introduces some new  features including a community inspired homepage, program microsites, a blog, and the addition of a donation site that encourages community members to give the gift of reading through online donations.  Carson continues, "Early literacy is one of our central focuses.  Books are universal, creating shared reading experiences for children and adults alike...everyone remembers their first book!  We are excited to launch a partnership with Scholastic-they are helping to bring books to children that otherwise wouldn't have many."
 
Scholastic, the global children's publishing, education and media company, is making high-quality children's books available to the Coalition at a deeply-discounted rate.  All donations will support early literacy programs hosted by the Coalition through the purchase of new Scholastic books. Scholastic has graciously made the first contribution, donating books for a series of read aloud events through Officer Friendly's Book Club at 43 early learning centers throughout the county.  Books purchased through the donation site will support:
  • Officer Friendly's Book Club: a literacy program that pairs local law enforcement and early learning centers together on a monthly basis for read alouds by uniformed officers
  • Adventures in Tote Bags: a project that provides early literacy materials and family engagement activities to children attending family childcare homes in high-need areas
  • Ready to Read Pinellas: an initiative sharing the joy of reading by putting high-quality, age-appropriate books in the hands of young children
The partnership comes at a time when the whole state will soon be celebrating literacy, as Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida begins January 25th through the 29th.  The Coalition will celebrate literacy throughout Pinellas County, and encourages the community to do the same by donating books at: https://shop.scholastic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/DonateView?storeId=10751&org=ELCPIN&campaign=ELCPIN
 

 
For more information or to participate in Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida, please visit:  http://www.elcpinellas.net/donate  
For more information about Scholastic, please visit: http://www.scholastic.com/home/   
Contact: Mary Burns  |  Direct: 727-400-4442  |  mburns@elcpinellas.net