RIF, CIS-New Orleans, and National PTA Launch United We Read -- A Joint Initiative...

RIF, CIS-New Orleans, and National PTA Launch United We Read -- A Joint
Initiative in Support of President Obama's United We Serve

2,500 children to receive free books during week-long literacy celebration in
New Orleans

WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Reading Is Fundamental (RIF),
Communities In Schools (CIS) New Orleans, and National PTA have joined to
launch United We Read, an initiative in support of the United We Serve
national effort launched by President Obama to engage more Americans in
serving their communities this summer.

Beginning the week of August 17, approximately 2,500 children in six New
Orleans schools will receive free books, as well as a United We Read backpack
that includes parent and family resources from PTA, RIF, and CIS. Throughout
the course of the school year, the CIS-New Orleans RIF program will provide
the children with a total of 7,500 free new books.

The office of Congressman Joseph Cao (LA-2) made an address during the kickoff
ceremony at Fischer Accelerated Academy this morning, and the school was
presented with a Multicultural Book Collection, sponsored by Macy's. Also
joining this unique project were country singer Sammy Kershaw, actor/comedian
Harry Shearer, New Orleans Hornets broadcaster Gil McGregor and award-winning
children's book author Whitney Stewart -- all emphasizing to the children how
reading is fun for people from all walks of life, and how reading has been
important in their own careers.

Throughout the literacy celebrations taking place in the six schools, children
will choose free books, listen to read alouds by special guests, and
participate in a number of exciting activities aimed at motivating children to
read.

The participating schools from Algiers Charter School District include:

-- William J. Fischer Accelerated Academy
-- Dwight D. Eisenhower Academy of Global Studies
-- Martin Behrman Charter Academy of Creative Arts and Sciences

-- McDonogh # 32 Literacy Charter School

Also participating in the literacy celebrations and book distributions are the
following:

-- Benjamin Franklin Elementary

-- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Charter School

The New Orleans Public Library also participated in the initiative by
distributing United We Read backpacks to children who attended their summer
reading program in early August.

Time spent reading with children during these events will be captured and
logged on RIF's Read for Change website -- a campaign also supporting United
We Serve. The campaign aims to highlight the importance of reading with young
children and has the goal of collectively logging 3 million minutes of reading
with children by September 11, 2009. See www.RIF.org/readforchange.

About CIS-New Orleans
Communities In Schools of New Orleans is the Louisiana affiliate of the
nation's largest dropout prevention organization. Founded in 1996,
Communities In Schools New Orleans is working with ten K-12 schools in New
Orleans, coordinating direct services for students that help them stay in
school, learn, achieve, and be prepared for life. More than 70% of
Communities In Schools' tracked students show improvement in academic
achievement, attendance, behavior and promotion to the next grade level.
Visit our website at www.CISNewOrleans.org.

About National PTA
PTA comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and
business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children
and the promotion of parent involvement in schools. PTA is a registered
501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that prides itself on being a powerful voice
for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a
strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who
wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health, and
welfare of children and youth.

About RIF
Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF), founded in 1966, motivates children to
read by working with them, their parents, and community members to make
reading a fun and beneficial part of everyday life. RIF's highest priority is
reaching underserved children from birth to age 8. Through community
volunteers in every state and U.S. territory, RIF provides 4.5 million
children with 16 million new, free books and literacy resources each year. For
more information, and to access reading resources, visit RIF's website at
www.RIF.org.

Discover the Joy!

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Carol H. Rasco
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SOURCE Reading Is Fundamental

Mitchell Schmale of Reading Is Fundamental, +1-410-336-8571,
Mitchell@MaroonPR.com; James Martinez of the PTA, +1-312-670-6782 Ext. 325,
JMartinez@pta.org; Sara Massey of Communities In Schools, +1-504-494-4435,
SMassey.cisno@gmail.com, or Brandon Armant of Algiers Charter Schools,
+1-504-302-7033, Brandon.Armant@theacsa.org