Macy's Be Book Smart campaign raises $4.9M for Reading Is Fundamental

Reading Is Fundamental, the nation’s largest children’s literacy nonprofit, recently announced that its Be Book Smart campaign with Macy's raised nearly $5 million. Not too shabby!

From June 24 to July 31, Macy's customers nationwide, including at the retailer's King of Prussia store, had the option of donating $3 through the Be Book Smart campaign to provide a book for a child, and Macy’s matched 100 percent of every $3 donation to RIF for a total donation of $4.9 million. The organizations partnered with the goal of giving 1 million books to children in need.

In the Philadelphia area, the campaign will directly provide free and new books for children served by the RIF program at Philadelphia Reads.

This is the third consecutive year Macy's and its customers have supported RIF.

“RIF is overwhelmed by the generous support of Macy’s and the millions of customers who shopped during the Be Book Smart campaign,” said Carol H. Rasco, president and CEO of RIF. “As we look to our future, we are pleased to call Macy’s our partner and appreciate their ongoing commitment to RIF and our efforts to improve children’s literacy in the United States.”

Earlier this year, federal funding for RIF was eliminated from the budget, which accounts for 80 percent of the organization’s overall operating budget, or $25 million. Macy’s annual campaign offered a timely opportunity to help increase private funding for the organization while giving back to local communities.

“Giving back to local communities is a cornerstone of our business,” said Martine Reardon, executive vice president of marketing for Macy’s. “Reading Is Fundamental has a long history of inspiring children to read and achieve by providing books to own at home. Macy’s passionately supports children’s literacy, and we thank our customers for adding their generous contribution to the RIF organization.”

Since 2004, RIF’s partnership with Macy’s has raised nearly $21 million to support children’s literacy through customer-supported fundraising campaigns, in-store events, and volunteer activities. Last year, Macy’s supported RIF programs that provided 3.6 million free books to more than 1.2 million children and donated 350 multicultural book collections to RIF programs throughout the country.

Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF), founded in 1966, motivates children to read by working with them, their parents, and community members to make reading a fun and beneficial part of everyday life. RIF’s highest priority is reaching underserved children from birth to age 8. Through community volunteers in every state and U.S. territory, RIF provided 4 million children with 15 million new, free books and literacy resources last year. For more information and to access reading resources, visit www.rif.org. Make a donation directly to RIF by clicking here.

What do you get when you combine shopping discounts and helping kids in low-income neighborhoods? Gratified.

Reading Is Fundamental and Macy’s have joined together to launch Be Book Smart, RIF’s largest customer-supported campaign held at Macy’s stores nationwide. Through July 31, Macy’s customers can give $3 to help provide a book for a child and get $10 off a purchase of $50. Macy’s will donate 100 percent of every $3 to RIF.

In Philadelphia, the campaign will directly provide free and new books for children served by the RIF program at Philadelphia Reads.

According to RIF, in middle-income neighborhoods, the ratio of books per child is 13-to-1. However, in low-income neighborhoods, the ratio dramatically declines to one age-appropriate book for every 300 children.

In 2010, RIF provided 15 million books to more than four million underserved children, but government budget cuts have taken their toll on the organization. Federal funding for RIF was not reinstated for fiscal year 2011 and the loss of the federal contract will severely alter access to books for millions of children in this country.

“Be Book Smart comes at a time when RIF truly needs the support of every Macy’s customer,” said Carol H. Rasco, president and CEO of RIF. “Macy’s continues to be a generous corporate partner to RIF, and we are thankful for their dedication and commitment to helping us provide books to the children who need them most. We know that together we can reach our goal of building a more literate America.”

Since 2004, RIF’s partnership with Macy’s has raised more than $16 million to support children’s literacy through customer-supported fundraising campaigns, in-store events, and volunteer activities. Additionally, Macy’s is the founding sponsor of RIF’s Multicultural Literacy Campaign, a multi-year effort to promote and support early childhood literacy in African American, Hispanic, and American Indian communities — where reading scores are often the lowest.

Last year, Macy’s supported RIF programs that provided 3.6 million free books to more than 1.2 million children and donated 350 multicultural book collections to RIF programs throughout the country. Macy’s is also RIF’s lead partner for volunteer engagement and fosters a spirit of volunteerism in communities nationwide.

“Macy’s is proud to enter our sixth year of partnership with RIF,” said Martine Reardon, executive vice president of marketing for Macy’s. “We are committed to RIF and the millions of children and families the organization serves. Be Book Smart provides an easy opportunity to give back to local communities by supporting children’s literacy, and we thank customers with a great offer for their back to school and fall fashion shopping!”

So beat the heat in the air-conditioned Macy's department store (closest to me is in the King of Prussia Plaza) and get shopping. Or donate directly to RIF by clicking here.

Click here to watch a short YouTube video about Be Book Smart.

RIF is hosting a sweepstakes on Facebook to encourage supporters to share the Be Book Smart campaign with friends. This week, one winner will be awarded a $500 Macy’s gift card. To participate in the sweepstakes, visit www.rif.org/sweeps. No purchase is required to participate in sweepstakes.

Reading Is Fundamental Inc., founded in 1966, motivates children to read by working with them, their parents, and community members to make reading a fun and beneficial part of everyday life. RIF’s highest priority is reaching underserved children from birth to age 8. Through community volunteers in every state and U.S. territory, RIF provided 4 million children with 15 million new, free books and literacy resources last year. For more information and to access reading resources, visit www.rif.org