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Hoyer Accepts Challenge to Speed Read to Children to Promote Book Donations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, October 15, 2004
Congressman Hoyer accepted the "Speed Read Challenge" from Kyle Busch, the driver of the No. 5 Team Lowe's Racing Busch Series entry, to raise book donations for local children. Known for his speed on the track, Busch used his "fast talk" to raise book donations for local children. The Speed Read Challenge required Congressman Hoyer to read as many words as possible from a classic children's book, Go Dog Go, in just 15 seconds. Congressman Hoyer's participation in this event generated 10,000 new books to children in Maryland.
"I was delighted to accept this Speed Read Challenge today and to promote book donations for Maryland children," said Congressman Steny Hoyer. "Not only does this event highlight this generous donation, but it also stresses the importance of reading in early childhood years."
The Speed Read Challenge Event is part of Lowe's efforts to fight illiteracy, and is part of a $100,000 grant to First Book by the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation.
"First Book is delighted to work with Congressman Hoyer and Lowe's to distribute new books to children in the DC metro area and spread the magic of reading," said Kyle Zimmer, President of First Book.
First Book is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to give children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books. First Book Advisory Boards provide books to children in literacy programs, shelters for battered children, housing project initiatives, soup kitchens, after-school programs and other community-based efforts reaching children living at or below the poverty line. In the past three years, First Book has distributed over 20 million new books to children in need in hundreds of communities nationwide.
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