On July 12th, Hope for Miami collaborated with Channel 10 WPLG-TV with the station’s annual Big Book literacy initiative. The book distributions are intended to provide engaging, age-appropriate books for students to take home for the summer.
Current research supports the direct, positive relationship between having books at home and maintaining literary proficiency. Accordingly, Hope for Miami makes it a primary goal to provide free or affordable books to the community at least once a year.
Approximately ten years ago, Hope for Miami commenced the distribution of free books to children via First Book, a nonprofit social enterprise that provides new books and learning materials through donations from children’s book publishers. The Children’s Trust provided the funding and Hope for Miami organized the distribution of books for about 4 years to other providers around Miami.
In later years, Mayte Padron (above encouraging the kids to read) ,Channel 10’s Head of Community Relations contacted the Hope for Miami staff in hopes of creating an ongoing literacy partnership. On behalf of Channel 10, Padron explained that there should be a greater collective effort to keep children focused on school even during their summer break if they had books at home. That is when the Big Book Drive was initiated. From different sources, including personal book donations as well as First Book contributions, Channel 10 and HFM have accessed thousands of books to give away each year.
During the book event at Vera Cadillac, Hope for Miami and Channel 10 distributed books to the 100 children who attended. In the afternoon, Channel 10 moved to a church based in Hialeah: Iglesia del Nazareno El Buen Pastor. About 300 books were distributed to the children participating in HFM’s Summer Camp Program.
When asked about the importance of Hope For Miami’s partnership with Channel 10, Mayte responded, “Since 2016, the Local 10 Big Book Drive has collaborated with local nonprofits, such as Hope for Miami, to distribute more than 150,000 new books to kids in low-income communities. Hope For Miami has been an integral partner in this effort, from facilitating the purchase of the books to connecting us with its out-of-school program. We look forward to many more successful years working together to foster a love of literacy in every child".