BankRI Launches 4th Annual Children’s Book Drive

Tuesday, April 01, 2014

GoLocalProv Business Team

Help promote literacy in Rhode Island by donating new or gently-used children's books at any of BankRI's 18 branch locations in April.

Bank Rhode Island (BankRI) will kick off a month-long book drive in support of Books Are Wings in each of their 18 branch locations starting today. This year’s effort marks BankRI’s 4th annual partnership with Books Are Wings, a local non-profit that puts free books in the hands of children in some of the state’s neediest communities. Throughout April, members of the community may visit any BankRI branch to donate new and gently-used children’s books. The goal is to collect 2,000 books.

Improving literacy in RI

“I can’t think of anything more important to a child’s future than fostering a love of reading; the life-long benefits are overwhelming and they all start with helping them excel in the classroom,” said Patricia O’Donnell-Saracino, Vice President of Community Relations for BankRI. “Our annual book drive is an effort that everyone looks forward to as a way to help kids. I’d love to see this year’s collection exceed its goal.”

In addition to organizing its book drive, BankRI has awarded Books Are Wings a $1,500 grant to fund an afterschool Book Party pilot program in Central Falls. Over the course of 6 weeks, children in kindergarten through third grade will spend an afternoon being read to before breaking into groups for literacy-based activities. The program, whose goal is to increase children’s interests in reading both recreationally and in school, will also provide an opportunity for kids to choose books to keep.

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BankRI operates 18 branches and more than 60 ATMs throughout Providence, Kent and Washington Counties. For more information, visit www.bankrhodeisland.com. For more information on Books Are Wings, visit www.booksarewings.org.

Related Slideshow: The Most and Least Diverse High Schools in Rhode Island

The data below reflects the 2012-13 academic year as provided by the Rhode Island Dept of Education. Values have been rounded to the nearest whole percent.

BankRI Launches 4th Annual Children’s Book Drive

Improving literacy in RI

Related Slideshow: The Most and Least Diverse High Schools in Rhode Island

#49 Ponaganset HS

North Scituate, RI

#48 Scituate HS

Scituate, RI

#47 Tiverton HS

Tiverton, RI

#46 Coventry HS

Coventry, RI

#45 Burrillville HS

Burrillville, RI

#44 Exeter-West Greenwich

West Greenwich, RI

#43 Chariho Regional HS

Wood River Junction, RI

#42 North Kingstown HS

North Kingstown, RI

#41 Mt. Hope HS

Bristol, RI

#40 Narragansett HS

Narragansett, RI

#39 Barrington HS

Barrington, RI

#38 Smithfield Senior HS

Smithfield, RI

Total enrollment: 772

#37 Portsmouth HS

Portsmouth, RI

#36 Lincoln Senior HS

Lincoln, RI

Total enrollment: 1,067

#35 North Smithfield HS

North Smithfield, RI

#34 Warwick Vets HS

Warwick Veterans Memorial HS, Warwick RI

#33 Toll Gate HS

Warwick, RI

#32 Pilgrim HS

Warwick, RI

#31 South Kingstown HS

South Kingstown, RI

#30 Cranston HS West

Cranston, RI

#29 East Greenwich HS

East Greenwich, RI

#28 Westerly HS

Westerly, RI

#27 Cumberland HS

Cumberland, RI

#26 West Warwick HS

West Warwick Senior HS, West Warwick, RI

Total enrollment: 982

#25 Johnston Senior HS

Johnston, RI

#24 Beacon Charter HS

Beacon Charter High School For The Arts, Woonsocket, RI

Total enrollment: 230

#23 Middletown HS

Middletown, RI

#22 East Providence HS

East Providence, RI

#21 Acad. for Career Exp.

Academy for Career Exploration, Providence, RI

#20 Central Falls HS

Central Falls, RI

Total enrollment: 838

#19 Cooley Health/Science

Cooley Health & Science Technology Academy, Providence, RI

#18 North Providence HS

North Providence, RI

#17 Times 2 Academy

Providence, RI

Total enrollment: 652

#16 Central HS

Providence, RI

#15 Mt. Pleasant HS

Providence, RI

#14 Prov. Career & Tech