2004 Campaign for Literacy Brings Books and Scholarships to Students in the Democratic National Convention's Host City
July 26 2004 - 6:40PM
PR Newswire (US)
2004 Campaign for Literacy Brings Books and Scholarships to
Students in the Democratic National Convention's Host City Event
Earlier Today at Northeastern University Provided More Than 2,500
Books to Boston Students and $25,000 in Scholarships to
Participants in Jobs for America's Graduates BOSTON, July 26
/PRNewswire/ -- First Ladies Christie Vilsack of Iowa and Barbara
Richardson of New Mexico, in partnership with Northeastern
University and Sallie Mae, today announced that more than 2,500
books for Boston Public School students have been collected through
the 2004 Campaign for Literacy Books for Boston book drive. "Beyond
the Boston Common and the walls of Fenway Park, Boston is very much
a city with its roots in education," said Christie Vilsack, First
Lady of Iowa. "We stand here at Northeastern, a fitting example of
the city's rich tradition in education, and a school many young
Bostonians dream about attending. The Campaign for Literacy can
make that dream a reality, open new doors of opportunity and help
Boston's students grow." The book drive encouraged each delegate
and attendee of the Democratic National Convention to donate at
least one book to the Books for Boston Campaign for Literacy. The
drive, which benefits kindergarten through 12th graders in the
Boston Public School System, will continue throughout the week. The
results of this year's drive have already surpassed a similar
campaign held during the 2000 Democratic National Convention, which
collected more than 1,000 books for literacy programs in Los
Angeles. "Literacy is the cornerstone, the very foundation, of
achievement," said Barbara Richardson, First Lady of New Mexico.
"That is why this Campaign for Literacy is so important. The
thousands of books that are being given to Boston students today
build the foundation that will lead to their success tomorrow. That
is why this Campaign is so important. The thousands of books that
are being given to Boston students today will be a lasting gift on
which tomorrow's success is built." The First Ladies of Iowa and
New Mexico were joined in this effort by Ms. Angela Menino, Michael
Contompasis, chief operating officer of Boston Public Schools,
Richard M. Freeland, president of Northeastern University, and John
Marcus, president of Nellie Mae, a Sallie Mae subsidiary, to
announce the book donations. Governor and First Lady of Tennessee
Phil Bredesen and Andrea Conte attended the event along with First
Ladies Patti Blagojevich of Illinois, Karen Baldacci of Maine, Kim
Henry of Oklahoma, First Gentlemen Daniel Mulhern of Michigan,
Congressman Michael Capuano (D-MA) and his wife Barbara, and
Congressman Harold Ford, Jr. (D-TN). The Boston Public School
System educates more than 60,000 diverse students each year and is
making great strides to reduce dropout rates, increase future
enrollment in college and improve test scores among its student
body. From 1998 through 2002, passing rates on the Massachusetts
Comprehensive Assessment System test have improved substantially
for all ethnic groups: * Blacks have improved by 33 percent in
English and 100 percent in Mathematics. * Asians have improved by
36 percent in English and 34 percent in Mathematics. * Hispanics
have improved by 50 percent in English and 178 percent in
Mathematics. * Whites have improved 10.4 percent in English and 25
percent in Mathematics. "We are very grateful to Sallie Mae, the
delegates and to all those who generously donated books to Boston
Public Schools," said Michael G. Contompasis, chief operating
officer, Boston Public Schools. "Increasing literacy in Boston's
public schools is a core value of the Boston Read Initiative, and
the thousands of books donated today will go a long way in doing
just that." In addition, The Sallie Mae Fund, a charitable
organization sponsored by Sallie Mae, today presented $25,000 in
college scholarships to Boston students and participants in Jobs
for America's Graduates (JAG), a school-to-career program
implemented in 1,000 schools across the country. The JAG program
institutes effective strategies to ensure all participants in the
program graduate from high school and provides work-based
experience to lead to career opportunities and enrollment in a
college or university. Ken Smith, the president and chief executive
officer of JAG, joined by several JAG students, highlighted JAG's
mission to increase graduation rates and provide work-based
learning for students across the country. Kellie Rowe, participant
in Jobs for Bay State Graduates, a partner of the JAG program,
discussed how the program eased her transition from high school to
college, built valuable leadership skills and helped prepare her
for a career in social services. Speaking to the dozens of Boston
grade school children in attendance Rowe said, "I hope that all of
the children here today understand that education is the key to
success. I hope you take every day of your education seriously and
that you read every day and use what you learn from books to turn
your dreams into reality and achieve your goals." Northeastern
University, located in the heart of Boston, Massachusetts, is a
world leader in cooperative education and recognized for its expert
faculty and first-rate academic and research facilities. Through
co-op, Northeastern undergraduates alternate semesters of full-time
study with semesters of paid work in fields relevant to their
professional interests and major, giving them nearly two years of
professional experience upon graduation. The majority of
Northeastern graduates receive a job offer from a co-op employer.
Cited for excellence two years running by U.S. News & World
Report, Northeastern was named a top college in the northeast by
the Princeton Review 2003/04. In addition, Northeastern's career
services was awarded top honors by Kaplan Newsweek's "Unofficial
Insiders Guide to the 320 Most Interesting Colleges and
Universities," 2003 edition. For more information, please visit
http://www.northeastern.edu/. The Sallie Mae Fund, a charitable
organization sponsored by Sallie Mae, achieves its mission -- to
increase access to a postsecondary education for America's students
-- by supporting programs and initiatives that help open doors to
higher education, preparing families for their investment, and
bridging the gap when no one else can. For more information visit
http://www.thesalliemaefund.org/. DATASOURCE: Northeastern
University CONTACT: Brylee Maxfield of Northeastern University,
+1-617-373-2802; or Martha Holler, +1-703-810-5178, for The Sallie
Mae Fund Web site: http://www.thesalliemaefund.org/
http://www.northeastern.edu/
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