BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — The #BuffaloStrong campaign has turned green for September, and by joining in, you can help put books in the hands of local children.
7 ABC and the Scripps Howard Foundation are raising money for the "If You Give a Child a Book ... " campaign. All the money we raise is staying in Western New York to help kids in Buffalo get their own books.
About the campaign
A significant marker for educational success occurs when most children are only 8-9 years old. How well a child reads at the end of third grade can affect the rest of her education. Through third grade, children are learning to read. Starting in fourth grade and beyond, children read to learn. This means how well a child can read at the end of third grade affects how well they learn in the years that follow. Children who can't read at grade level by third grade are four times less likely to graduate from high school.
The "If You Give a Child a Book ... " campaign distributes books directly to the kids who need them most, by partnering with local schools and non-profit groups. Nationwide, the program has given more than 352,000 new books to kids in its first four years.
Last January, 7 ABC gave more than 1,000 books to children in the Cheektowaga-Sloan school district. This year, we are working with Buffalo United Charter School.
Here's how you can help
7 ABC is once again teaming up with Retro Buffalo to create a special green edition #BuffaloStrong shirt. $7 from each shirt sold will go straight to the "If You Give a Child a Book ... " campaign. The shirt comes in a v-neck, t-shirt or hoodie.
Is green not your color? You can donate directly to the campaign by clicking here. Any contribution makes a difference, regardless of size. Just $5 is enough to give one child a book of their own.
We know the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic has affected many WNY families. There are non-monetary ways you can help. Simply spreading the word makes a difference! You can share this article on social media and use #BuffaloStrong and #Give7 to let your friends and family know about this campaign.
