Reading Tree exceeds commitment
Gives United Way more than 18,000 children's books
Abbotsford, BC, October 26, 2011
Last January, Reading Tree signed a partnership with United Way to supply 18,000 slightly used children's books to one school in each of the four school districts, with the remaining books going to early childhood programs throughout the Fraser Valley. Shortly after the agreement was signed, 10 books for each student were delivered to Central Elementary Community School, Boston Bar Elementary Secondary School, Alexander Elementary School and West Heights Elementary School. Over the spring and summer more than 11,475 books have been delivered for children's programs that encourage parents to read to their children.
This partnership has exceeded all of our expectations." said Wayne Green, executive director of United Way. "Reading Tree committed to supplying 18,000 books. By our last count, more than 19,000 books were delivered. Abbotsford Community Services and Chilliwack Community Services were able to distribute books through their family programs. Hand in Hand received over 2,000 books for their Strong Start program and preschool. Sardis Doorway for Mothers and Children Society received over 500 books."
The Abbotsford Early Childhood Committee is using the books generously donated by Reading Tree to give to children who participate during their weekly storytime and parachute games program.
Denise Thandi, Abbotsford, Early Childhood Coordinator said, “The children love being able to pick out a book to take home each week – this creates excitement and adds to their enjoyment of reading.”
Catherine Solheim, Agassiz Early Childhood Coordinator said, "Everyone at our Agassiz/Harrison ECD Committee wants to thank you for this very generous donation. The books were all used and very well received at our summer Story Time in the Park sessions in Hope, Agassiz, and Harrison Hot Springs over the summer months. Record-breaking attendance and participation happened this year. Everyone commented on the quality of these books."
"Over 600 books were given out to the children attending our various children’s programming," said Jackie Ayer, Chilliwack Community Services Family Literacy Coordinator. "Many of the children hugged their books and sat down to read them with their Mom or Dad,"
"This has been an incredible boost for children's literacy here in the Valley, " said Green. "We sincerely thank Reading Tree, TRM, Reading Tree’s logistics contractor for sorting and delivering the books, the retailers allowing a book donation box on their property and everyone who drops their precious books into the blue bins."
In the News
United Way Freshens Image
ABBOTSFORD, BC, June 30, 2011
United Way of the Fraser Valley is getting a new look. In an effort to move beyond the image as solely a fundraiser, the local not-for-profit is re-branding, and spreading the message of local community building that has taken place for more than 26 years.
United Way Canada has provided a branding framework for the 113 United Way’s across the country to express what it does in each community. The new tagline – Change starts here – will be used locally to remind residents that each person can make a difference, and through their help, United Way is changing lives in the Fraser Valley.
Last fall, a community consultation and donor survey re-confirmed United Way’s commitment to three priorities: ensuring children 0 to 6 succeed, addressing homelessness, and poverty reduction. In addition to these, annual grants are given to 28 different member charities in the Fraser Valley, as well as the many initiatives that United Way supports. To express this in a simple manner, the new branding includes three focus areas that encompass all that United Way does:
All that kids can be
From poverty to possibility
Healthy people, strong communities
Each of these focus areas cover the programs, grants, initiatives and priorities that United Way of the Fraser Valley addresses to create a positive change. By using the same message across Canada, United Way will create a stronger awareness of what is being accomplished locally, and can continue to strengthen the community.
The call to action is: Give. Volunteer. Act. United Way has a powerful impact with the financial assistance of individuals and businesses, as well as the meaningful work of volunteers. The result is that one in four people in the Fraser Valley uses a service supported by United Way.
Please click here to download the news release.
Lori Masse
Director of Resource Development
United Way of the Fraser Valley
Reading Tree Grows
Alexander Elementary School receives huge book donation
Abbotsford, BC, April 5, 2010
Reading Tree, in partnership with United Way of the Fraser Valley, has contributed more than 1,700 children's books to Alexander Elementary School.
"This gift of books was a terrific boost to our literacy efforts at Alexander Elementary," says Principal Jim Van Meer. "We were able to provide our students with a huge variety of books to choose from just before the recent spring break. They were all excited to be able to take home some books from this collection. There was something for everyone. This donation from the Reading Tree and the United Way of the Fraser Way was a really encouraging event for our school."
"We are absolutely thrilled to be involved with a program that contributes 10 books for every student at Alexander Elementary," said Wayne Green, executive director of United Way of the Fraser Valley. "Reading is critical in the development of young children. When parents read to their children for even 20 - 30 minutes a day, those children are more likely to succeed in school as well as in their future lives. This is the third school in the Fraser Valley that has benefitted from our partnership with the Reading Tree."
Since 2007, Reading Tree has delivered over 3,000,000 quality children’s books into the hands of book-starved children throughout North America. “Children get so excited when they receive ‘their very own book’ to keep and take home to read with their family. It is a special moment when families sit down and read together, that is what this program is all about,” said Denise Finch, market manager for Reading Tree
For more information and locations of the Reading Tree collection bins please visit www.readingtree.ca
For The Love Of Literacy
Central Community School receives truckloads of books from Reading Tree
Staff/Voice photos
Kids at Central Community School show off their new books Monday courtesy of Reading Tree
and United Way of the Fraser Valley.
Feb. 14, 2011
n Valentine's Day, Reading Tree and the United Way were all heart as they made good on a promise to deliver over 2100 books to Central Elementary Community School as part of their Lending Library program which will eventually deliver over 18,000 children's books, with an estimated value of approximately $90,000. Kids in Fraser Valley Schools will get close to half the books and early childhood education will get the rest.
It's fair to say that because of the donation, the little library at the school is bursting at the seams and teacher-librarian Christopher Hunt couldn't be happier.
The donation means that between 7-10 books will be given to each child from the 21-boxes delivered to the school.
Hunt was amazed at the condition of the books saying they were all in marvelous condition and that some appeared to not even have been read.
"It's not like I had to sort any and go 'ah, that one's missing it's cover or that one's all beaten up', they're all really in great condition" said Hunt enthusiastically.
Denise Finch described how they go through the books and sort them 0-5th and 6-12th grade.
"We collect and recycle gently used books, and we establish lending libraries within the community and designate the books for early learning initiatives," said Finch.
Finch said Wayne Green chose the school as a school that would benefit by a "Lending Library".
Green told media that the United Way FV has been in discussions with Reading Tree for about 2-years and it took a little while to get going in the direction that they wanted.
"It's a perfect match for us," he said. "Getting 10 books per child in the school is actually amazing and one of the commitments from the Reading Tree is the school can't charge fines or penalties if somebody loses a book or forgets to bring it back on time, the rule is get the books out to the kids and the Reading Tree will replace any books that get damaged or lost."
He said that his group are currently negotiating with Abbotsford, Mission and Fraser-Cascade school as to which particular schools are the next to receive the books and said his group, the United Way was "the glue that brought it all together."
"We're in negotiations with Abbotsford, Mission and also Fraser Cascade, so there'll be one school in each one of those districts who'll get the books."
One of the best ways to improve children's literacy is when parents read to their kids.
Reading Tree got it's start as Boston-area initiative about 4-years ago and a lot of the books were getting shipped internationally and then they decided to help improve local children's literacy skills and soon that idea spread across the US and eventually into Canada with the help of Thrift Recycle Management Co. Since the program began over 3.5-million books have been distributed.
Reading Tree currently supplies adult paperback novels to B.C. Cancer Foundations Auxiliary, who sell the books for $ 2 at their treatment centre's to support their services. Reading Tree has partnered with Safeway during their giving campaigns to raise money for Breast Cancer Research & Prostate Cancer.
For more information visit www.readingtree.ca and www.thriftrecycling.com
Chilliwack Book Drop Locations
The following list are locations where the community can donate their books.
- MTF @ Vedder Rd - 5725 Vedder Rd, Chillwack
- Superstore @ Luckakuck Way - 45779 Luckakuck Way, Chilliwack
- Lot @ 45461 Yale Rd W - 45461 Yale Rd W, Chilliwack
- Lot @ Alexander & Yale - Alexander Ave & Yale Road, Chilliwack
- Lot @ Mary & Princess - Mary St & Princess Ave, Chilliwack
United Way on its Way
United Way of the Fraser Valley has announced it is 86 per cent of its way to the 2010 goal of $750,000.
"We have all read that this year donations are down for almost all charities," said Campaign Chair Ray Warren. "With a few weeks left to go, and many businesses still sending us their campaign results, I'm confident in saying the United Way has seen an increase this year, and we have many local businesses and employees to thank for that."
Prospera employee's donations and corporate gift boost the campaign by 36%. RBC increased their corporate gift with a one-time donation of an extra $10,000 in support of Campaign Chair Ray Warren, who is an RBC manager.
The funds raised are desperately needed in the community.
"We had more than five times the requests for funding dollars than what we have allotted," said Warren. "In addition, we doubled the amount we have available, so the need is huge."
United Way will announce the final campaign total in March at their annual awards ceremony.
United Way Awareness
by Kylee Swadden (Contributer)
Email: cascade.news@ufv.ca
From: The CASCADE: UFV's Student Press Since 1993
in 4 people in the Fraser Valley use a service that the United Way of the Fraser Valley (UWFV) supports. In addition to its own initiatives, the United Way supports 27 local agencies. Lori Masse, UWFV’s Director of Resource Development shares, “This campaign’s tag line is ‘Because you live here.’ It is so important that residents know that every penny donated stays in the Fraser Valley.”
The UWFV has a very close relationship with UFV and their students. This mutually beneficial relationship provides real world, in class experience for students and invaluable help and fresh ideas for the organization. This semester the BUS 390 class, Advanced Selling, has been enlisted to cold call all of the licensed businesses in Abbotsford to ask if they would like to donate to UWFV.
The UWFV initiatives were developed based on feedback received from the community. These key initiatives include early child development, homelessness, affordable housing, and poverty reduction.
The first initiative is called Success by 6. Studies show that 28% of kindergarten-aged children have not developed the skills required to enter kindergarten. Tests have been administered to students in kindergarten, again in grade 4 and finally, in grade 10 and the results have shown that students who struggle at the beginning of their school career will struggle throughout, which is why UWFV believes that ages 0-6 are the most important years for development.
Fraser Valley Housing Network is another initiative through the United Way of the Fraser Valley, which creates opportunities for the 8,700 people in the Fraser Valley who do not have a permanent home. The United Way also works in poverty reduction. Over 61,000 Fraser Valley residents struggle financially every year.
UWFV’s third initiative, Vibrant Abbotsford, works to build economic, social and civic opportunities for all. They have been involved in many community-building services in Abbotsford over the last few years. Vibrant Abbotsford is also working with UFV CMNS 312 class this semester.
UWFV awarded a $10,000 impact grant to Autumn House, a place where people aged 16-19 who have been emancipated, in foster care, or on the streets can go with money they get from Ministries of Children and Families to pay their rent and be taught life skills. Autumn House residents are taught how to grocery shop, cook, dress for a job interview, and do laundry.
“Most stay at Autumn House for about 6 months and then move on, 80% of whom manage to live independently; that is huge. We’ve taught them how to fish so to speak,” Lori Masse states proudly.
More of the local agencies that UWFV provides grants involved in include: Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association, Fraser Valley Child Development Center, Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and 23 other agencies.
“If everyone in the Fraser Valley donated $2 per paycheque, we could seriously impact lives. That is 16 times the impact of what we are fundraising for right now! And you get a tax credit,” Lori Masse explains.
Their current goal for this year’s campaign is $750,000, and the campaign ends on December 31, 2010. All money donated until that date will count for this years’ contribution.
If you feel strongly about donating to a specific organization through UWFV, there is an option to clarify that on your pledge form. The cost of fundraising for most organizations is approximately 26%. However, the United Way of the Fraser Valley’s cost of fundraising is 15% because most of their workers are volunteers or loaned reps from other companies.
In their time with the United Way of the Fraser Valley, these loaned reps acquire priceless experience in organizational skills, presentation skills, and sales skills; the skills that they develop in this time will set them apart from their peers in their individual careers.
The UWFV website amply explains: “Why Give to United Way? Because you live here, you care about your community. It is your coworkers, your neighbors, and your children that will benefit from a healthier, safer, stronger Fraser Valley. You support United Way because you see a bright and positive future.”
Charitable Business Number: 11927 8430 RR0001