Linebacker Blake Costanzo visited Whittier Elementary School in Waukegan on Tuesday, November 13 to help Bernie's Book Bank distribute its one millionth book!
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The event began with an all-school assembly led by Brian Floriani, Founder and Executive Director of Bernie's Book Bank. Brian presented two special students with the one millionth and the one millionth and one books that Bernie's Book Bank has distributed to mark a goal met, and a new goal set. Since 2009, over 1,040,100 books have been distributed to over 60,000 children in the Chicagoland area. In 2013, Bernie's Book Bank hopes to begin distributing one million books per year.
Following the assembly, Blake helped volunteers hand out books to all 625 of the students at Whittier. Each child received a bag containing six books that will be theirs to keep forever.
Bernie's Book Bank facilitates the collection, processing and redistribution of quality new and gently used children's books to significantly increase book ownership among at-risk infants, toddlers and school age children living throughout Chicagoland. Schools in which 50% or more of the children qualify for the free and reduced lunch program are eligible. Each child served receives at least two bags of books per year until they complete 6th grade.
For more information on how to donate, volunteer, or to learn more about the great work being done by Bernie's Book Bank, please visit www.BerniesBookBank.org.
