On Saturday, May 18, Madison Reading Project will roll out the first, all-accessible free book bus in Wisconsin, beginning its journey to bring free literacy programs to children.
Madison Reading Project invites the community to attend the official launch, which will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the Kohl Center concourse at the UW-Madison Campus and is free and open to the public.
Hosted by Wisconsin Athletics, the event will feature tours of both Madison Reading Project book buses and other mobile partners, including Madison School and Community Recreation, local libraries, and meet & greet Bucky Badger! Plus, free books for all children attending!
“Our organization’s first book bus turns five this year and it’s just been an incredible journey to see the growing impact we’ve created,” says Rowan Childs, founder and executive director. “Requests for our mobile services have skyrocketed in the last few years. We have seen and heard the needs of our community and we want to help provide solutions in the most inclusive way possible.
“We truly hope everyone will join us for Saturday’s celebration, old friends and new,” Childs adds. “It’s crucial that we continuously strive to remove barriers to accessing free books and literacy resources.”
“We’re so grateful to Junior League of Madison, American Girl, Madison Community Foundation, several corporate donors, local foundations, and individuals who helped our funding campaign.”
From now until May 31, Junior League is offering a $50K matching grant to help fill the bus with books. To make a matching donation, visit:
https://secure.qgiv.com/for/fillthebuscampaign/event/bookbuspalooza/
“A gift in any amount will help our staff and volunteers reach thousands of children with free books and literacy engagement across the greater Dane County area,” says Emily Wills, Madison Reading Project development director.
Chartered in 2014 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Madison Reading Project has given more than 500,000 books to children living in nine (9) South Central Wisconsin counties.
Much of the giving is targeted to under-resourced families and children needing literacy support.
