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2004 Campaign for Literacy Brings Books and Scholarships to
Students in the Democratic National Convention's Host City
Event Earlier Today at Northeastern University Provided More Than 2,500 Books
to Boston Students and $25,000 in Scholarships to Participants in Jobs for
America's Graduates
BOSTON, July 26 /PRNewswire/ -- First Ladies Christie Vilsack of Iowa and
Barbara Richardson of New Mexico, in partnership with Northeastern University
and Sallie Mae, today announced that more than 2,500 books for Boston Public
School students have been collected through the 2004 Campaign for Literacy
Books for Boston book drive.
"Beyond the Boston Common and the walls of Fenway Park, Boston is very much a
city with its roots in education," said Christie Vilsack, First Lady of Iowa.
"We stand here at Northeastern, a fitting example of the city's rich tradition
in education, and a school many young Bostonians dream about attending. The
Campaign for Literacy can make that dream a reality, open new doors of
opportunity and help Boston's students grow."
The book drive encouraged each delegate and attendee of the Democratic National
Convention to donate at least one book to the Books for Boston Campaign for
Literacy. The drive, which benefits kindergarten through 12th graders in the
Boston Public School System, will continue throughout the week. The results of
this year's drive have already surpassed a similar campaign held during the
2000 Democratic National Convention, which collected more than 1,000 books for
literacy programs in Los Angeles.
"Literacy is the cornerstone, the very foundation, of achievement," said
Barbara Richardson, First Lady of New Mexico. "That is why this Campaign for
Literacy is so important. The thousands of books that are being given to
Boston students today build the foundation that will lead to their success
tomorrow. That is why this Campaign is so important. The thousands of books
that are being given to Boston students today will be a lasting gift on which
tomorrow's success is built."
The First Ladies of Iowa and New Mexico were joined in this effort by Ms.
Angela Menino, Michael Contompasis, chief operating officer of Boston Public
Schools, Richard M. Freeland, president of Northeastern University, and John
Marcus, president of Nellie Mae, a Sallie Mae subsidiary, to announce the book
donations. Governor and First Lady of Tennessee Phil Bredesen and Andrea Conte
attended the event along with First Ladies Patti Blagojevich of Illinois, Karen
Baldacci of Maine, Kim Henry of Oklahoma, First Gentlemen Daniel Mulhern of
Michigan, Congressman Michael Capuano (D-MA) and his wife Barbara, and
Congressman Harold Ford, Jr. (D-TN).
The Boston Public School System educates more than 60,000 diverse students each
year and is making great strides to reduce dropout rates, increase future
enrollment in college and improve test scores among its student body. From
1998 through 2002, passing rates on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment
System test have improved substantially for all ethnic groups:
* Blacks have improved by 33 percent in English and 100 percent in
Mathematics.
* Asians have improved by 36 percent in English and 34 percent in
Mathematics.
* Hispanics have improved by 50 percent in English and 178 percent in
Mathematics.
* Whites have improved 10.4 percent in English and 25 percent in
Mathematics.
"We are very grateful to Sallie Mae, the delegates and to all those who
generously donated books to Boston Public Schools," said Michael G.
Contompasis, chief operating officer, Boston Public Schools. "Increasing
literacy in Boston's public schools is a core value of the Boston Read
Initiative, and the thousands of books donated today will go a long way in
doing just that."
In addition, The Sallie Mae Fund, a charitable organization sponsored by Sallie
Mae, today presented $25,000 in college scholarships to Boston students and
participants in Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG), a school-to-career program
implemented in 1,000 schools across the country. The JAG program institutes
effective strategies to ensure all participants in the program graduate from
high school and provides work-based experience to lead to career opportunities
and enrollment in a college or university.
Ken Smith, the president and chief executive officer of JAG, joined by several
JAG students, highlighted JAG's mission to increase graduation rates and
provide work-based learning for students across the country. Kellie Rowe,
participant in Jobs for Bay State Graduates, a partner of the JAG program,
discussed how the program eased her transition from high school to college,
built valuable leadership skills and helped prepare her for a career in social
services.
Speaking to the dozens of Boston grade school children in attendance Rowe said,
"I hope that all of the children here today understand that education is the
key to success. I hope you take every day of your education seriously and that
you read every day and use what you learn from books to turn your dreams into
reality and achieve your goals."
Northeastern University, located in the heart of Boston, Massachusetts, is a
world leader in cooperative education and recognized for its expert faculty and
first-rate academic and research facilities. Through co-op, Northeastern
undergraduates alternate semesters of full-time study with semesters of paid
work in fields relevant to their professional interests and major, giving them
nearly two years of professional experience upon graduation. The majority of
Northeastern graduates receive a job offer from a co-op employer. Cited for
excellence two years running by U.S. News & World Report, Northeastern was
named a top college in the northeast by the Princeton Review 2003/04. In
addition, Northeastern's career services was awarded top honors by Kaplan
Newsweek's "Unofficial Insiders Guide to the 320 Most Interesting Colleges and
Universities," 2003 edition. For more information, please visit
http://www.northeastern.edu/.
The Sallie Mae Fund, a charitable organization sponsored by Sallie Mae,
achieves its mission -- to increase access to a postsecondary education for
America's students -- by supporting programs and initiatives that help open
doors to higher education, preparing families for their investment, and
bridging the gap when no one else can. For more information visit
http://www.thesalliemaefund.org/.
DATASOURCE: Northeastern University
CONTACT: Brylee Maxfield of Northeastern University, +1-617-373-2802; or
Martha Holler, +1-703-810-5178, for The Sallie Mae Fund
Web site: http://www.thesalliemaefund.org/
http://www.northeastern.edu/