Target donates to reading programs

[From Philanthropy News Digest] The Minneapolis-based Target Corporation has announced that it will donate more than $500 million in support of education by 2015, doubling its support for education-related activities and organizations to date.

The commitment is part of a new reading initiative, Target Read With Me, that aims to help more U.S. children become proficient in reading by the end of third grade. Through the initiative, Target will work to encourage parents and caring adults to commit to a reading schedule with a child, provide up to two million books to children in need, and create an innovative reading center that will reach communities across the country using both physical and virtual locations.

According to the most recent data available, one out of four young people in the U.S. fails to graduate from high school, while nearly 40 percent of African-American and Hispanic students do not earn a diploma. By launching the initiative and increasing its focus on helping young children read more proficiently, Target hopes to build greater awareness of the education crisis in America, reinforce the importance of the role reading plays in shaping a child's future, and provide access to the tools and resources needed to help children beat the odds and stay on the path to graduation.

"When more than a million students a year fail to graduate with their class, it's more than a problem, it's a catastrophe," said Gen. Colin L. Powell, founding chair of America's Promise Alliance. "Our economic and national security are at risk when we fail to educate the leaders and the workforce of the future. No single organization or entity can solve this issue on its own. We have a responsibility to unite across sectors to address this crisis on its own. We have a responsibility to unite across sectors to address this crisis because we cannot afford to let our kids fail."

“Target Announces Plans to Reach $1 Billion in Support of Education.” Target Press Release 9/27/10.