Raise-a-Reader

Canwest Raise-a-Reader is Canada's premier literacy initiative. From its beginnings in 1997, Raise-a-Reader has grown to become a truly national initiative, raising over $10 million since 2002 for family literacy programs across Canada.

The program is supported by Canwest daily metropolitan newspapers and partner newspapers coast-to-coast. In addition, Canwest-owned Global TV, E! Everything Entertainment, canada.com, ReachCanada and generous local and national sponsors all contribute a tremendous amount of promotional support to the campaign.

Raise-a-Reader is a year-around initiative, with the culmination of efforts on Raise-a-Reader Day. This is when thousands of Canwest employees-from newspaper columnists to television personalities -join city mayors, police chiefs, hockey stars and countless other volunteers to exchange special edition newspapers for donations to Raise-a-Reader. One hundred per cent of all donations stay in the communities where it is raised. In 2007, the initiative raised over $2.4 million for family literacy programs.

Generous corporate partners, including, Assante Wealth Management, Microsoft, Scholastic, 7-Eleven Stores, Ivanhoe Cambridge and Purdy's Chocolates, plus many local sponsors, make the effort possible by donating children's books and educational software, plus their generous financial contributions. Canwest Raise-a-Reader is truly a grassroots literacy brand Canadians can connect with.

For more information visit www.raiseareader.com