The Wood Memorial
Holiday Book Drive
256 NE 16th Street
Delray Beach, FL 33444
561-279-9974

CULTURAL COMMUNITY PROMOTES HOLIDAY BOOK DRIVE

The Palm Beach County Cultural Council heads an impressive list of organizations that understand the importance of partnerships - and the power of dreams - in these challenging times. From Boca Ballet Theatre in the south to the Burt Reynolds Institute for Film & Theatre in Jupiter, arts organizations across the county are joining forces with the Wood Memorial Children's Book Drive to give the gift of reading this holiday season.

"The support of the cultural community means so much to our efforts," says Christina Wood, a freelance writer and editor living in Delray Beach who began the drive in 1997 following the death of her parents, Peter and Helen Wood. "These organizations truly understand the spirit of giving - they do it all year long."

In Palm Beach County, more than 30 percent of children in fourth grade are unable to read at grade level. Every week, in community sites throughout the county, children in need receive new books through a variety of children's literacy programs coordinated by the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County. During the past year, more than 4,000 children in preschool through fifth grade were assisted in developing a love of books and reading. Many of the books that ended up in their eager hands were provided through the Wood Memorial Holiday Book Drive.

"The Wood Memorial Book Drive provides beautiful new children's books that the Literacy Coalition distributes to sites throughout the county that serve children at-risk. Providing these children the opportunity to own their own new books is a tremendous gift," Darlene Kostrub, Chief Executive Officer of the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County, says. "We are truly grateful to the community for their generosity in giving the gift of literacy."

The Wood Memorial Holiday Book Drive will be accepting donations of books for children ages 6 months to 10 years through December 19. New books can be dropped off at a number of community collection sites across the county, including O'Shea's Irish Pub, Haile, Shaw & Pfaffenberger, P.A., LRP Publications, Inc., Gunster, the South Florida Water Management District, the Florida Office of the Attorney General and Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP as well as a number of cultural organizations, including Centre for the Arts at Mizner Park, Dreyfoos School of the Arts and the Delray Beach Public Library.

For more information or for additional collection sites for the Wood Memorial Holiday Book Drive, please contact the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County at 800-273-1030.