LAKE COUNTY, IL (08/15/12) – United Way of Lake County’s 2011 assessment of incoming kindergartners’ skills in North Chicago, found that 62% of children had little knowledge of books.  Reading is the most important skill a child needs to learn, but children can’t become proficient readers without access to books.

In response to this startling statistic, United Way of Lake County developed Page it Forward 2.0: Lake County’s largest book drive. The goal is to mobilize the entire Lake County community in a collective effort to improve literacy and collect 200,000 books for low-income children in the area.

Since Page it Forward 2.0 kicked off in June, United Way of Lake County has been thrilled at the response from the community.  Lake County businesses and residents have been eager to help support children’s literacy in Lake County- whether it be at birthday parties where books were requested in lieu of gifts, collecting unsold books at garage sales or even local businesses participating in a corporate challenge or as a book collection site.

One such example is Max Bromet from North Barrington.  “I decided to collect books with Page it Forward because I have always loved reading and when I learned that lots of kids in the Chicago area did not have any books I wanted to help.  With over 1,600 books already collected, my new goal is to collect 2,000!” comments Max. 

Max created a Facebook page, personal fundraising page and his own handmade bookmarks to promote his project.  He even started a book drive at the Barrington Farmer’s Market ad well as his local elementary school.  He also plans to do a book drive in his neighborhood to collect more books for low-income children in Lake County.  Other groups like Girl Scout Troop 40625 from Zion/Beach Park and a group of incoming seniors at Libertyville High School also have been hitting the streets to collect books from their neighbors. 

The public can donate their new or gently used children’s books at one of nearly 50 community locations throughout Lake County, including First Midwest Bank locations, freestanding Starbucks locations, and local Farmer’s Markets and Park Districts.  The full list can be viewed at www.pageitforward.org.  

Page it Forward 2.0 is truly an old-fashioned book drive with a contemporary twist.  In addition to the book drives in the form of corporate challenges and community drop-off sites, United Way of Lake County offers a set of cutting-edge social media options to make contributing toward the goal of 200,000 books through the Page it Forward 2.0 campaign accessible, exciting and meaningful to all. Whether it’s collecting donations through custom Peer-to-Peer fundraising tools, or texting the word PAGE to 85944 to donate $10 to childhood literacy, or “liking” Page it Forward at www.facebook.com/pageitforward where a sponsor will donate a book per “like,” everyone in the community has an opportunity to support this important cause in their own, unique way. 

For more information, including volunteer opportunities, downloadable materials and the latest updates, visit www.pageitforward.org.    
 
Thank you to our generous Page it Forward 2.0 sponsors: 102.3 WXLC, BMO Harris Bank, Patch.com and Waukegan Tire.

About United Way of Lake County:
United Way of Lake County (UWLC) is preparing our children to succeed in a changing world by focusing on education and building safe and stable families. Working with nonprofit agencies and community partners, we have identified four key programs to prepare children to succeed: Success By 6 Program – prepare for kindergarten; Reading Success Program – read at grade level; Stay in School Program – graduate high school; Safe and Stable Families Program – empowering families. UWLC is overcoming reading and educational barriers by reaching children, from preschool through high school, through these key programs.  The overall effect and benefits are multiplied by the strong collaboration with agencies and our community partners. For more information, visit www.LIVEUNITEDlakecounty.org.