For Immediate Release s475

For immediate release. PRESS RELEASE CELEBRATING LITERACY MILESTONES FORT COLLINS GROWN NON-PROFIT CELEBRATES LITERACY MILESTONES WITH ANNUAL BOOKS ON TAP EVENT Fort Collins, CO, November 5, 2015— Book Trust, a national nonprofit literacy organization founded in Fort Collins, is celebrating a milestone. To date, Book Trust has put over 4.3 million books in the hands and homes of children from low-income families. In celebration of this milestone and to further support its programming, Book Trust will be hosting its 4th annual Books on Tap event, 5:30pm on November 5th at the Windsong Estate in Fort Collins. Books on Tap guests will enjoy an evening of delicious food, drinks, and entertainment while bidding on a variety of auction items. All Books on Tap proceeds will benefit Book Trust’s efforts to promote literacy and a love of reading among children. Event sponsors include Scholastic, UC Health, OneSeven Advisors, Blue Margin, NoCo Townhomes, SAFEbuilt, and Columbine Health Solutions. In 2001, Adrienne Schatz founded Book Trust to help students gain access to books and develop a love for reading. She started with a small pilot program of 170 students in Larimer County, providing students money to select and purchase their own books. Today, Book Trust serves over 38,000 kids in fifteen states and still operates with its original mission: provide kids with books they choose themselves and that become their very own. “This event is a chance for Book Trust to connect to Fort Collins, the place Book Trust began and that still means so much to this organization,” said Book Trust President and CEO Amy Friedman. “Our goal is to ensure every child may choose a book of his or her own. We know the act of choosing a book ignites interest in reading, sparks conversations about reading among kids and families, and helps cultivate a passion for reading and learning.” In areas of poverty, the ratio of books to children is 1 book for every 300 children, a figure contributing to the reading gap between low and middle income families. Through its programming and partnerships, Book Trust ensures all children have access to books, regardless of their family income level.

About Book Trust Book Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower children from low-income families to choose and own books, inspiring a passion for reading and cultivating increased literacy skills and life-long learning. For more about Book Trust, visit booktrust.org Post event photos available upon request. Contact: Lauren Boone Book Trust Communications Manager (720)-259-8049 [email protected]