Crapo To Help Distribute 25,000 First Books

Washington, DC â?? Idaho children will benefit by the distribution of some 25,000 free books this week as Idaho Senator Mike Crapo joins with First Book and other sponsors to distribute books during an event Friday, October 15th at the Boise Office Solutions warehouse. The event marks the first in Idaho utilizing a new U.S. Department of Education grant Crapo assisted in obtaining that will ultimately lead to more than 200,000 books distributed statewide over the next two years. Crapo will be joined by Elizabeth Matthews of First Book, Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Marilyn Howard, Boise Education Association President Laurie McCurdy and Meridian Education Association President Jerry Helgesen to distribute books to students in Idahoâ??s Head Start Program. Also invited to attend the distribution are Boise Mayor Dave Bieter, Boise State University President Robert Kustra, Jim Everett, CEO of the Boise Family YMCA and Stephen Cottrell, Director of the Boise Public Library. Boise Office Solutions General Manager Tom Hays agreed to help warehouse the books supplied by First Book and Disney. This event is the first utilizing a U.S. Department of Education grant bringing First Books and an ongoing citizen advisory board and distribution system to Idaho. First Book is a national non-profit organization seeking to offer children in lower-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books. â??Idaho students are reading and keeping hundreds of thousands of books thanks to First Book, our partners in Idaho, and the Department of Education,â?? Crapo said. â??Literacy is key to learning, and this program is key in getting a good first start in reading. We are also proud Idaho is taking the next stepâ??forming ongoing advisory groups that will lead to a long-term reading program for Idaho students.â?? Following the First Book distribution, Crapo will serve as keynote speaker for the annual Buy Idaho, Incorporated meeting at the Owyhee Plaza Hotelâ??s Ivory Room. Crapo will discuss recent Congressional efforts to increase jobs and revise tax policy for business, as well as the Idaho export picture. Crapo leads distribution of 25,000 First Books for Idaho children:Friday, October 15th, 10:30 a.m., Boise Office Solutions Warehouse575 East 42nd Street, Garden City. Crapo keynotes Buy Idaho, Incorporatedâ??s Annual Meeting: Friday, October 15th, Noon, Owyhee Plaza Ivory Room. # # #