International Paper Ignites Reading With Reading Is Fundamental
Rally to Read 100 encourages kids to read 100 books in six months; full suite of resources and events available for educators and families
In the past year, there has been a loss in education due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Reading is Fundamental (RIF) seeks to inspire more children around the nation to read and regain some of the lost learning. To support these efforts, International Paper is sponsoring the Rally to Read 100 campaign—a six-month initiative that runs from September 2021 to March 2022 to unite classrooms and communities across the country to inspire and motivate children to read 100 books.
Along with challenging kids to read 100 books, the Rally to Read 100 campaign incorporates classroom kits, reading activities, a book collection sweepstakes for schools, and monthly themed events with noteworthy authors and illustrators. The culmination of the six-month Rally to Read program will feature a nationwide online finale event on March 2, 2022. Resources supporting the program are available at RallytoRead.org.
Noting how 25 million children in the U.S. cannot read proficiently, with millions more falling behind on basic reading skills because of COVID-19, Reading Is Fundamental President and CEO Alicia Levi said, “Rally to Read is a simple yet compelling initiative to unite our nation’s educators, students, and caregivers around the importance of reading to re-engage our children in a life-long love of reading, curiosity about the world, and passion for exploration and growth through books. We take tremendous pride in serving over 100 million children over our 56-year history, and are excited to launch this inaugural initiative across America at such a critical time.”
International Paper’s collaboration with Reading is Fundamental supports the company’s community engagement commitment to education, one of four signature causes. The collaboration also advances the company’s Vision 2030 goal of improving the lives of 100 million people in its communities.
“International Paper is a proud supporter of RIF’s Rally to Read 100 initiative. It is a great way for students and their families to get enthusiastic about reading and commit to reading 100 books to help improve literacy,” said Tom Plath, Senior VP of Human Resources and Global Citizenship, and Reading Is Fundamental board member.
About Reading is Fundamental
Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) is committed to a literate America by inspiring a passion for reading among all children, providing quality content to create impact, and engaging communities in the solution to give every child the fundamentals for success. As the nation’s largest nonprofit organization for children’s literacy, RIF has provided more than 422 million books to 96 million kids in all 50 states, inspiring generations to read, learn and grow.
About International Paper
International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a leading global producer of renewable fiber-based packaging, pulp and paper products with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, Europe, North Africa and Russia. We produce corrugated packaging products that protect and promote goods, and enable world-wide commerce; pulp for diapers, tissue and other personal hygiene products that promote health and wellness; and papers that facilitate education and communication. We are headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., employ approximately 48,000 colleagues and serve more than 25,000 customers in 150 countries. Net sales for 2020 were $21 billion. For more information about International Paper, our products and global citizenship efforts, please visit internationalpaper.com.
