ABC CANADA
Distributes Coca-Cola funding for reading initiatives

July 31, 2002 - Toronto, ON -- ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation is now accepting applications from literacy organizations, school libraries and public libraries interested in obtaining funding from share the stories, a corporate philanthropy program first launched by Coca-Cola Ltd. in 2001. This year's share the stories project will fund new or existing reading circles or book collections for children across Canada. ABC CANADA will manage the share the stories project, including the distribution of funds to successful applicants.

"We are pleased to be a part of a program that is committed to fostering the love of reading in Canadian children," explains Christine Featherstone, President of ABC CANADA. "We share Coca-Cola's commitment to enhancing new and existing opportunities for children to engage in reading and literacy-related activities." Not-for-profit literacy organizations, school libraries and public libraries across Canada can apply for funding to assist in the development/maintenance of a reading circle, or to create/supplement a children's book collection.

Successful applicants for reading circle funding will receive $2,500, and successful applicants for book collection funding will receive $1,500.

The share the stories program aims to provide $1 million in funding to libraries and literacy organizations for famiIy reading Initiatives between 2001 and 2003. Last year, Coca-Cola donated more than $260,000 to create 200 share the stories reading circles in libraries, which also included book donations and the distribution of reading tip sheets and certificates to the libraries that hosted these circles. The program was introduced in six cities - Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax. ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation contributed to this project by developing supporting materials which were distributed at share the stories reading circles across the country.

Eligible organizations interested in applying for share the stories funding can obtain an information package from ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation by calling 1-800-303-1004, or by visiting www.abc-canada.org.

ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation is a national, registered charity committed to promoting adult and family literacy to the general public and to the private sector. ABC CANADA's focus is on public awareness programs, providing promotional support to local literacy groups, and conducting research to further the development of a fully literate Canadian population.

Master of Education Degree - Literacy Focus

In 2002 Memorial University initiated a Master's Program focusing on literacy for a cohort of teachers from the Avalon West School District. The goal is to meet the needs of teachers both in terms of enhancing their literacy expertise, and in accommodating them in accessing the necessary courses to complete the program. Courses are offered off-campus (Whitbourne), on-line, and in "condensed time" and regular time on-campus.

27 teachers form this cohort group in the course E-6602 Curriculum Studies, 2002 Summer Session, with Dr. T. Fagan, Instructor.