Wipro and First Book to Provide Books to Kids in Need
Wipro and First Book to Provide Books to Kids in Need
Tech company Wipro Ltd. (NYSE:WIT) and First Book, a non-profit social enterprise, have announced a partnership to provide new books to children in need across five cities in the United States and Canada.
Together, Wipro and First Book will distribute 35,000 books to educators and program leaders in 2015, serving kids from low-income families in Jefferson City (Missouri), Atlanta, Houston, East Brunswick (New Jersey) and Edmonton, Canada.
First Book, a non-profit social enterprise that provides new books and educational resources to children in need, was chosen by Wipro for its leadership in addressing the unequal access to books in low-income communities. Books will be distributed to schools and programs in five communities where Wipro has a strong presence.
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Books are critical to a child’s success, in school and in life. But in homes and schools in low-income communities, books are scarce. In fact, some of the lowest income neighborhoods, have access to only one book for every 300 children.
“The program is designed to help children and young people gain access to excellent reading material, such access is integral to good education. This is especially important for children from disadvantaged families. The program is yet another effort towards our vision to contribute to high quality universal education by working with local communities and educators,” said Anurag Behar, chief sustainability officer, Wipro Limited.
The partnership kicks off in Jefferson City, Missouri in October with a reading celebration and distribution of over 6,000 books to area educators. Over the few months, schools and programs in the Wipro communities of Atlanta, Houston, East Brunswick, N.J. and Edmonton, Canada will also each receive between 6,000 and 7,000 books and educational resources through First Book.
Wipro offices across the US and Canada recently completed a fundraising effort to support local schools and programs as part of the annual Spirit of Wipro Run. The funds raised by employees were matched by an equal contribution from Wipro.
Photo couryesy: First Book
