FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT: Sarah Woolsey, Interim Executive Director and Events Director, [email protected] Give Children the Opportunity to Read The Harry Potter Alliance's Accio Books campaign works with US Quidditch and Books for Africa COLUMBIA, S.C. (March 31, 2016) — The Harry Potter Alliance (HPA) is bringing their annual ​ book drive to Columbia, South Carolina as a part of US Quidditch Cup 9 on April 16 and 17, 2016. Since 2009, the HPA has enabled people to donate over 250,000 books to underprivileged or underserved readers through their annual book drive. In previous years, the HPA and US Quidditch (USQ) have collected thousands of books for donation to non­profits in South Carolina, New York and Michigan. This year, the HPA is teaming up with USQ again for a book drive during US Quidditch Cup 9. Books will be sent to Good Shepherd School, a co­ed school for 250 young people in the rural area of Masaka, Uganda. US Quidditch Cup attendees are encouraged to bring books and/or school supplies to donate. Donations can be made at the HPA booth in the vendor village. Attendees can bring their favorite novels, picture books or textbooks ­ nearly all reading levels and genres will be accepted. Attendees are also encouraged to donate new school supplies, like notebooks, pencils, calculators and more. To learn more about the Accio Books campaign, visit thehpalliance.org/accio_books. After you have donated, use the hashtag #AccioBooks and ​ ​ tag the HPA. The Good Shepherd School was built by community leaders, volunteers and the local Masaka HPA chapter ­ and soon, it will open a brand new library, thanks to donations from Accio Books and Books for Africa. The mission of Books for Africa is to end the book famine in Africa by ​ helping to create a culture of literacy and provide the tools of empowerment to the next generation of parents, teachers, and leaders in Africa. The HPA has over 200 chapters in 21 ​ countries across the globe, including several in North and South Carolina. US Quidditch Cup 9 is on Saturday, April 16 and Sunday, April 17 at the Palmetto Health Fields at Saluda Shoals Park. The event is hosted in partnership with the Columbia Regional Sports ​ Council and the Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission. For more information about US Quidditch ​ ​ ​ ​ Cup 9, visit usquidditchcup.com. ​ ​ The Harry Potter Alliance (www.thehpalliance.org) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that takes an ​ ​ out­of­the­box approach to civic engagement. It’s changing the world by making activism accessible to young people through the power of story. Since 2005, it has engaged millions of young people to become like the heroes they read about through our work for equality, human rights and literacy. US Quidditch (USQ) is the national governing body for the sport of quidditch. USQ advances the sport by organizing events and programs that build community and empower all genders to compete together. DETAILS FOR CALENDAR LISTINGS WHO: The Harry Potter Alliance and US Quidditch ​ WHAT: The Harry Potter Alliance (HPA) is bringing their annual book drive to Columbia, South ​ Carolina as a part of US Quidditch Cup 9. WHEN: April 16, 8 a.m. ­ 8:30 p.m. and April 17, 9 a.m. ­ 7:30 p.m. ​ WHERE: Palmetto Health Fields at Saluda Shoals Park ​ 6071 St. Andrews Rd. Columbia, SC 29212 HOW: Donations can be made at the HPA booth in the vendor village. Attendees can bring their ​ favorite novels, picture books or textbooks ­ nearly all reading levels and genres will be accepted. Attendees are also encouraged to donate new school supplies, like notebooks, pencils, calculators and more. Tickets to US Quidditch Cup 9 are now on sale. Day passes, weekend passes and VIP passes are available. Passes are also available for children 12 and under; children two and under are free. For more information, visit www.usquidditchcup.com. ​ ​ # # # .