Highlight of this year’s For the Love of Books kickoff event was the official announcement of Comcast’s $25,000 grant to support the Consortium’s Literacy for Life initiative. That’s Jennifer Highfield of Comcast’s Government and Community Affairs office above with Literacy for Life coordinator David M. Pribish.The Consortium for Public Education launched its 2008 For the Love of Books celebration with newest partner Barnes & Noble Booksellers and long-time supporter Comcast.
As in past years, the observance is taking place around Valentine’s Day and involves Barnes & Noble stores in the South Hills, The Waterfront, Monroeville and Waterworks Mall. Dates are February 8-17.
“We are excited that this national retailer has signed on as a major partner and look forward to continuing the success of our program,” said David Pribish, the Consortium’s Literacy for Life Coordinator. “You will see the familiar event components as well as a few changes.”
The weeklong literacy celebration continues to feature classroom store visits (Feb. 11 through Feb. 15, 2008) for students, who will meet with authors, illustrators and storytellers. Act 48 professional development workshops for teachers again will be offered.
“We are very eager about having this opportunity to work with area schools on a fun program for students and their teachers. We look forward to having these events in our stores and working with the Consortium,” said a spokesperson with Barnes & Noble Booksellers.
For the Love of Books remains the Consortium’s signature book-drive event but the book collection process is changing. New and gently used children’s books will be collected throughout the event, but instead of bringing the books to the stores – the practice in past years – donors will be asked to take them to these Guardian Self Storage sites:
Monroeville – 350 Old Haymaker Road
The Waterfront, Homestead – 1002 Waterfront Drive
West Mifflin – 1300 Lebanon Church Road
Pittsburgh East Side – 5873 Center Avenue (across from Whole Foods Market)
Books also can be dropped off at The Consortium office, 410 Ninth Street, McKeesport. Please call beforehand (412-678-9215) to inform the office of your donation.
As always, the collected books will be sorted by reading level and donated to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank for distribution via the food pantry system.
“This campaign has been going strong for six years and with the help of community friends, corporate partners and countless others, the Consortium has been able to provide meaningful literacy experiences outside the classroom for more than 6,500 elementary students,” Pribish said. “We also have been able to donate more than 567,000 new or gently used children’s books to those in Western Pennsylvania who need them the most.”
Funding in part for Literacy for Life has been made possible with a grant from Comcast Foundation, in recognition of Comcast’s commitment to the communities where its customers and employees live and work. Since its founding in 1999, the Comcast Foundation has distributed more than $30 million in support of programs implemented locally in Comcast communities.
 
xxxxPartners in Literacy for Life
Kickoff at The Waterfront B&N
The kickoff drew a number of Literacy for Life partners, including Laura Seliy, at left, editor of the Consortium’s literacy guide for parents; Annette Waldron, center, program coordinator for WQED’s Education Community Resource Center; and Charlese White of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. The food bank distributes the children’s books collected during For the Love of Books to needy families.
 Consortium board member Wayne Wilson and fiancee Heather turned out for the kickoff.
Bentworth Visits South Hills B&N
Bentworth third graders react to a story during their visit to Barnes & Noble in the South Hills. After hearing several selections, they tried their hand at the illustration side of storytelling.
Book Donations Still Being Accepted
Although For the Love of Books has come to a close, children's book donations continue to be accepted at the Guardian Storage facilities in Monroeville, The Waterfront, West Mifflin and Center Avenue, Pittsburgh East Side, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call 412-678-9215 or email dpribish@tcfpe.org.
Guardian Storage Locations:
Monroeville – 350 Old Haymaker Road
The Waterfront, Homestead – 1002 Waterfront Drive
West Mifflin – 1300 Lebanon Church Road
Pittsburgh East Side – 5873 Center Avenue (across from Whole Foods Market)
Books also can be dropped off at The Consortium office, 410 Ninth Street, McKeesport. Please call beforehand (412-678-9215) to inform the office of your donation.
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Act 48 professional development sessions are part of For the Love of Books. Shown above is a workshop on Cable in the Classroom at Barnes & Noble’s at the Waterfront. Teachers learned how to access more than 500 hours of free programming as well as online curriculum support. Pictured above at center is Jennifer Highfield and at left Natalie Rucchuito, both of Comcast’s Government and Community Affairs office. 
