Toronto, ON – ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation is pleased to announce that 55 organizations across Canada are receiving funding – representing $100,000 this year – to increase their book collections through the 2006/2007 Gift of Words™ presented by Starbucks program.

This national program offers grants to schools, libraries and literacy organizations for expanding titles in permanent book collections and developing reading circles. Grant funding is donated by Starbucks Coffee Canada, and the program is managed by ABC CANADA, Canada’s national charity for the promotion of literacy.

“Through this program and the generosity of Starbucks over the last two years, we have helped put new books in the hands of over 280,000 children, in 125 communities across the country,” says Margaret Eaton, President, ABC CANADA. “Gift of Words helps create innovative reading programs that appeal to children and families, and offers a viable solution to one of the biggest problems facing literacy and learning organizations today: the lack of available funding.”

“I’m proud that the Gift of Words program has touched so many Canadian children and families,” says Colin Moore, President, Starbucks Coffee Canada. “At Starbucks, we believe that reading and writing skills are the building blocks of society, and we are please to do our part to help foster those skills.”

In addition to the grant money ($1,500 for each book collection, $2,500 for each reading circle), more than 57,000 reading-related promotional materials, created by ABC CANADA, have been distributed at Gift of Words™ reading circles, including bookmarks and certificates of participation featuring ‘A to Z’ tips for parents on the importance of reading with children.

This year’s recipients, from coast to coast to coast, include:

• Haye River Dene Village Library, Hay River, NT – to create a reading circle for the young members of the First Nation’s community which incorporates the use of board books, storyboards, music and rhyme, as well as storytelling by community Elders;

• Kidston Elementary School, Coldstream, BC – for a book collection to help support the school’s buddy reading program where seniors, high school students and local celebrities read with the younger children;

• Further Education Society, Calgary, AB – to support a reading circle for at-risk families to enjoy a guest storyteller, one-on-one reading and a special storyboard to be built together;

• Moosomin Family Resource Centre, Moosomin, SK – to create a reading circle to emphasize the fun of reading, featuring motivational activities, including an element for non-verbal children to communicate through the use of sign language;

• École Crescentview School, Portage la Prairie, MB – for a book collection that includes both English and French materials and books to interest reluctant boy readers;

• Beardmore Public School, Beardmore, ON – for a collection of books that target reluctant readers, including high-interest, low-vocabulary fiction and non-fiction;

• Beverley Junior Public School, Toronto, ON – to create a collection of children’s books including multi-sensory/tactile books for students with developmental disabilities;

• Bibliothèque municipale de Saint-Georges, Ville Saint-Georges, QC – to build on its collection of bilingual and dual-language books for the city’s growing population;

• St. Bernard’s Elementary School Literacy Committee, Witless Bay, NL – to create a reading circle where students and community volunteers read and discuss books together and receive visits from local authors.

• Andrew & Laura McCain Library, Florenceville, NB – for a collection of books including graphic novels to attract the interest of boys and bring them back to the library; and

• Eastern Counties Regional Library, Mulgrave, NS – to create a reading circle for children and their families to step back in time and to share and learn about the history of their community as one of the oldest seaports in the Maritime Provinces.

• L.M. Montgomery Elementary School, Charlottetown, PE – to add a variety of picture and chapter books to the collection that meet the interest and reading levels of students, particularly those who are struggling with reading and beginning to disengage.

For a complete list of 2007 grant recipients, visit: www.abc-canada.org/gow

Attention Media: If you are interested in visiting a Gift of Words™ program in your community, please contact ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation.

Media, please contact:

Starbucks Coffee Canada: Simone Abt, Grey Worldwide PR; 604 484 3272; simone_abt@grey.net.

ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation is the national charity committed to promoting adult, workplace and family literacy to the general public and to the private sector. ABC CANADA’s focus is on public awareness programs, providing promotional support to local literacy groups, and conducting research to further the development of a fully literate Canadian population. www.abc-canada.org.

Starbucks Coffee Company provides an uplifting experience that enriches people’s lives one moment, one human being, one extraordinary cup of coffee at a time. To share in the experience, visit www.starbucks.com.