by: Joe Rossiter
Using burgers and book bags as an enticement, McDonald’s and Detroit Public Library officials announced Wednesday the launch of a new partnership that’s geared toward encouraging Detroit grade school kids to read more often.
Called Books and Backpacks, the program runs through the end of the year and offers children various incentives to check out books at the Main Library or any of the 23 DPL branches.
“Nowadays, it's crucial for kids to understand that reading provides the key to a better life,” said Melvin Jones, a Detroit McDonald’s owner/operator who grew up on the east side of the city and graduated from Kettering High School. “Our goal is to show them that besides being important to their education, reading can be a whole lot of fun.”
The students are encouraged to visit their local library to pick up a McDonald’s bookmark. Each time they check out books, the card will be stamped by a librarian. Once it’s stamped five times, the student can then take it to a local McDonald’s in exchange for a complimentary Happy Meal or Mighty Kids Meal.
As an added incentive, each library will host a drawing every month and award a backpack and a $20 gift certificate redeemable at Border’s Bookstores to the lucky winner. Entry forms can be filled out at one of the 24 library locations.
Among those in attendance, 10-year-old Cieara Clark, of Highland Park seemed especially excited with the news of the promotional announcement. A future fifth grader at University Preparatory Academy in Detroit next fall, she said she enjoys fiction books and claimed ‘Charlotte’s Web as her all time favorite tome.
“With all the different prizes they’re offering, it probably will encourage me to read more,” she declared.
Insisting that she reads 10 books a month, it shouldn’t be long before she collects her free meal.
Seven-year-old Lauren Johnson, of Detroit, slowly sucked down a milk shake compliments of the sponsor and replied, “It sounds like a pretty cool deal to me.”
From: Freep
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