The Vancouver Sun Raise-a Reader Campaign
By Cyndy Hill, Raise-a-Reader Project Coordinator

In 1997, Dennis Skulsky, Publisher of The Vancouver Sun, initiated a unique campaign designed to increase awareness and raise money for children’s literacy programs throughout British Columbia - The Vancouver Sun Raisea-a-Reader program.

Since then, Raise-a-Reader has contributed more than $400,000 to help children in B.C. read. In 2002 The Vancouver Sun Raise-a-Reader initiative became a national campaign. CanWest Global Communications Corp. (www.canwestglobal.com) will be rolling out Raise-a-Reader in 10 major cities across Canada.

The 6th annual Vancouver Sun Raise-a-Reader campaign culminated on Thursday, October 3rd with Raise-a-Reader Day. On Raise-a-Reader Day, volunteers from The Vancouver Sun, the Vancouver Canucks, Literacy BC and the Vancouver Public Library, joined with members of the Vancouver Firefighters and the Vancouver Police and other local celebrities on downtown street corners to distribute special RAR Day editions of The Vancouver Sun in exchange for donations. Pacific Newspaper Group donated the proceeds of all singlecopy sales to the campaign.

Allanah Mooney and Mark Crawford of the Vancouver Canucks with Raise-a-Reader team members

Funds raised through The Vancouver Sun Raise-a-Reader campaign support the Vancouver Public Library, the Canucks for Kids Fund, Literacy BC (funds disbursed to family literacy programs in B.C.), Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), Aboriginal HIPPY, and libraries throughout British Columbia. Funds raised through news-paper sales, corporate sponsorships, donations, and employee involvement campaigns will go to literacy programs and resources.

develop and support children’s literacy outreach programs purchase over 100,000 library books for pre-school children initiate a CIBC BC Children’s Book Collection at the Vancouver Public Library purchase over 600 books for First Nations school libraries provide support for 78 family literacy programs and services in B.C.

In 2002 partial proceeds generated by The Vancouver Sun Raise-a-Reader campaign will be directed by the Canucks for Kids Fund to develop the Canucks Family Education Centre.

For more information on The Vancouver Sun Raise-a-Reader, or to check out our calendar of events, view our website www.raise-areader.com, or call the Hotline at 1-866-637-READ.