Literacy and Youth Readership Initiative

Thank You BMI Members BMI Members donate books to:BMI Members donate books to:  Schools  Libraries  Pre-school children  “Community Reads” events

Thank You BMI Members BMI Members “adopt” schools and libraries by providingBMI Members “adopt” schools and libraries by providing  Financial support  Books and materials  Tutors  Mentors

Thank You BMI Members And BMI members help literacy and youth readership organizations in many other ways:And BMI members help literacy and youth readership organizations in many other ways:  Help with publicity  Download files of “Get Caught Reading” posters from AAP  Organize fundraisers  Fun and imaginative  Sponsor reading contests

Thank You BMI Members And BMI members help literacy and youth readership organizations in many other ways:And BMI members help literacy and youth readership organizations in many other ways:  Publish collections of stories by children  Sponsor author and illustrator visits to schools & events  Serve on boards of literacy organizations

Thank You BMI Members And BMI members help literacy and youth readership organizations in many other ways:And BMI members help literacy and youth readership organizations in many other ways:  Sponsor in-house visitations to first time parents  Talk about literacy initiatives in:  Company newsletters  Company holiday cards  Hold on-site classes for employees to earn GEDs

Why Should BMI Work To Promote Literacy and Youth Readership To expand our future marketTo expand our future market More importantly, to address a key need of our societyMore importantly, to address a key need of our society

What is BMI’s Strategy Encourage active support from BMI membersEncourage active support from BMI members Stimulate a viral marketing campaignStimulate a viral marketing campaign BMI doesn’t have deep pocketsBMI doesn’t have deep pockets Deep pockets not necessary if message resonatesDeep pockets not necessary if message resonates  Example: Mothers Against Drunk Driving

BMI

What Can You Do? Read coming letter listing current BMI member activitiesRead coming letter listing current BMI member activities Look for additional ways you can affordably help promote literacy and youth readershipLook for additional ways you can affordably help promote literacy and youth readership

What Can You Do? Consider asking someone in your organization to lead your company’s effortConsider asking someone in your organization to lead your company’s effort  Cash support, volunteers, book donations, etc. Tell BMI what you’re doing, so we can put it on the BMI websiteTell BMI what you’re doing, so we can put it on the BMI website Spread the word in company publicationsSpread the word in company publications

2008 Focus for Spreading the Word: Prevent Illiteracy in Early Childhood Programs for pre-school and early elementary childrenPrograms for pre-school and early elementary children  Distributing books to children  Reading aloud to children Some organizations include:Some organizations include:  Reach Out and Read  National Holiday Book Program  Read With Me (LVORC in Albany, NY)  Books for Kids (Buffalo, NY)  Kentucky Hands Spread the word any way you canSpread the word any way you can

Vision By 2017: measurable increase in percentage of children entering kindergarten prepared to readBy 2017: measurable increase in percentage of children entering kindergarten prepared to read  2006: Barry Zuckerman said 35% weren’t prepared Improvement tied to greater awareness among parents of importance of reading to preschoolersImprovement tied to greater awareness among parents of importance of reading to preschoolers BMI will have played a part in creating awarenessBMI will have played a part in creating awareness Please help spread the wordPlease help spread the word