2007 Raise-A-Reader Day

On Wednesday, October 3, Literacy BC staff members joined hundreds of volunteers, local celebrities and elected officials, including Premier Gordon Campbell and members of the Vancouver Canucks, for the 11th annual Raise-A-Reader Day.

Volunteers took to the streets before dawn throughout the downtown core to exchange special editions of the Vancouver Sun for donations to the CanWest Global Raise-a-Reader (RAR) campaign. The campaign was created by The Sun in 1997 to raise awareness and funds for BC children’s and family literacy programs. On RAR Day, 100% of all the funds collected by street sales and donations go directly to organizations that support children’s and family literacy.

Among the volunteers hawking newspapers downtown were members of the Canucks, Vancouver Police Dept (including new Police Chief Jim Chu), Vancouver Fire Fighters, Vancouver Sun staffers and community leaders. Volunteers from Literacy BC included Jean Rasmussen, Marj Froemgen, Mark Campbell, and Executive Director Cynthia Whitaker, accompanied by her husband, Andrew.

Despite the wet weather, more than $58,000 was raised from street sales on RAR Day this year - up from last year's total of $36,000. The grand total for BC, including donations currently stands at over $1 million - and climbing.

As a result of the media promotion of 1-888-READ-234 on RAR Day, we received a spike in calls from people interested in becoming a volunteer tutor or seeking literacy program referrals for themselves or someone they know. The Vancouver Sun has extensive coverage of the day in pictures and background on the campaign at its main site: www.canada.com/vancouversun.

Following their fundraising on the streets, volunteers and guests convened at the Hotel Vancouver for the annual Raise-A-Reader Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast. Jamie Pitblado, the Sun’s Vice President, Promotions & Community Investment, introduced special guest speaker Robin Garcia, a 31-year old Vancouver mother of six who is upgrading her literacy skills through the Canucks Family Education Centre -- one of the beneficiaries, along with Literacy BC, of Raise-A-Reader. CBC radio’s The Early Edition with Rick Cluff featured an interview with Robin, and with LBC Executive Director Cynthia Whitaker, which aired on RAR morning. Cynthia was also a guest speaker at the Raise-a-Reader Sponsors Breakfast on September 19.

Robin Garcia’s children are all smiles as they take home
balloons following the RAR Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast