Half Price Books Tackles Illiteracy Problem with A, E, I, O & You Volunteer Recruitment Program
September is National Literacy Month and the nation's largest independent bookseller Half Price Books has launched their awareness and incentive program called A, E,I,O & You. This program is designed to help recruit volunteers to the local literacy organizations around the country.

MADISON, WI, September 11, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Half Price Books Tackles Illiteracy Problem with
A, E, I, O & You Volunteer Recruitment Program
Bookseller kicking off effort during National Literacy Month in September

While the declining economy has forced many people from their jobs, it has pushed them into the door of literacy organizations nationwide looking for help to boost literacy and job skills. While the call for help is a good thing, it has left many literacy groups in need of additional volunteers to make sure students get the help they need. Half Price Books the nation's largest independent bookstore, a longtime supporter of literacy causes, is hoping to solve this problem with "A, E, I, O & You," an effort to help local literacy groups recruit volunteers.

A,E,I,O & You is an awareness and incentive campaign launched by Half Price Books to encourage voluntarism in the literacy field. All stores in fifteen states are participating in this program to help fight illiteracy in their cities. Each Half Price Books location has teamed up with a local literacy group.

Potential volunteers in the participating cities will be referred to the chosen local literacy organization of that city. Half Price Books has pledged to donate $100 to the chosen literacy organization for each volunteer that signs up through the A,E,I,O & You program during National Literacy Month and completes the required training in the participating cities. Additionally, trained volunteers will receive a $25 gift card to Half Price Books.

"Our goal during National Literacy Month is to help give every American the opportunity to enjoy a book or share a story with their family, and more volunteers will create more readers," said Kathy Doyle Thomas, executive director for Half Price Books. "For those who don't have time to volunteer, we hope at the very least this program serves as a reminder of the importance of literacy to our country."

Statistics released in January 2009 by the U.S. Department of Education state that 1 in 7 Americans can't read, that's about 32 million people across the country. Many of these Americans lack basic literacy skills meaning they can't read a book or the directions on a pill bottle. The A, E, I, O &You program hopes to bring more awareness to literacy programs around the country and to help recruit volunteers to help their cities succeed in making sure everyone can read.

September became recognized throughout the United States as National Literacy Month following the declaration of September 8 as International Literacy Day. The first International Literacy Day was declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1965. Every city celebrates in their own way, all with the same goal of encouraging adults and children to read.

About Half Price Books
Half Price Books is the largest family-owned new and used bookstore chain with more than 100 retail locations in 16 states. Stores are open seven days a week and buy and sell new and used books, magazines, comics, records, CDs, DVDs and collectible items. Half Price Books has been dedicated to environmental and literacy efforts for 36 years and supports hundreds of local, national and international programs. Each year the company sponsors the Half Pint Library Book Drive at each of its stores, donating thousands of books to hospitals and clinics throughout the United States. Half Price Books is a founding contributor to Laura Bush's National Book Festival, a continuing supporter of the National Center for Family Literacy, and the founder of the environmental website BecomeGreen.org. For more information about Half Price Books, its store locations and corporate initiatives, please visit www.halfpricebooks.com.

Press Release Contact Information:

Kara Hanko
The Creative Company
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