Weinberg Foundation Launches Annual Community-Wide Book Drive

BALTIMORE, March 1, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, one of the largest private foundations in the United States, tomorrow will launch its 6 th annual community-wide Book Drive in support of the Baltimore Elementary and Middle School Library Project.

The Weinberg Foundation has committed $10 million, of the total $30 million project investment, to build or transform up to 24 Baltimore City Public Schools libraries in an effort to strengthen academic achievement among students. To date, the Foundation and its more than 40 partners have completed 13 of these new spaces serving more than 6,000 students and their families.

This year, a new donation platform will allow you to contribute to the Book Drive, throughout the month of March, in three different ways: by visiting www.baltimorelibraryproject.org and clicking Donate, by texting bookdrive17 to 41444, or on the Weinberg Foundation's Facebook page. Just $8 will buy a brand new, hardcover children's book for this year's Library Project schoolFrancis Scott Key Elementary/Middle. The library grand opening at Francis Scott Key is tentatively scheduled for September 2017.

Book collection bins will also be available at select Baltimore businesses, organizations, and schools. Individuals may simply place new, hardcover children's books inside the marked bins. In addition, local businesses and organizations are encouraged to host a "dress down day" for booksan opportunity for staff members to dress casually in exchange for a new, hardcover children's book or monetary donation. Organizations are also invited to create their own way of engaging with employees to support the Book Drive.

As in years past, existing Library Project schools will also participate in the Penny Challenge. This is an opportunity for students who have already received a renovated school library to pay-it-forward by donating their pennies. These donations will also be used to purchase new books for the new library at Francis Scott Key Elementary/Middle School. The finalists and winner of this year's Penny Challenge will be announced at a live counting event, which will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, April 7 at Commodore John Rodgers Elementary School, the winner of last year's Penny Challenge.

Please follow all Library Project Book Drive developments at www.baltimorelibraryproject.org and on Facebook and Twitter at #libraryproject.

About The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation
The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, one of the largest private charitable foundations in the United States, provides approximately $100 million in annual grants to nonprofits that provide direct services to low-income and vulnerable individuals and families, primarily in the US and Israel. Grants are focused on meeting basic needs and enhancing an individual's ability to meet those needs with emphasis on older adults, the Jewish community, and our priority communities of Maryland, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Chicago, and Hawaii. The trustees, some of whom also serve as executive officers of the Foundation, are Alvin Awaya, Donn Weinberg, Robert T. Kelly, Jr., Fay Hartog-Levin, and Chair Barry I. Schloss. Rachel Garbow Monroe serves as the Weinberg Foundation's President and Chief Executive Officer. For more information, please visit www.hjweinbergfoundation.org.

Media Contact: Craig Demchak, 443-738-1159
cdemchak@hjweinberg.org

SOURCE Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation

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