Pearson Education to Host Early Literacy Awareness Event August 24 To Help Set the World Record for Reading; Beloved Children's Classic The Little Engine That Could Is Centerpiece Of National Early Education Campaign

Business Wire, August 18, 2006

INDIANAPOLIS -- In a first-time initiative to bring awareness to the importance of reading to young children, Pearson Education will host an early literacy event on August 24 to benefit Jumpstart's Read for the Record. The Read for the Record national campaign will set the world record for the number of people reading the same book in a single day.

Pearson Education will support this campaign on August 24 by participating in a Read for the Record event at the Indianapolis Zoo's Dolphin Pavilion at 1:00 p.m. Parents are encouraged to bring their children to take part in the event and show support for Read for the Record.

In addition to having employee volunteers reading the book to children, Pearson Education will also have an ABC Book-making Event which will offer children a chance to personalize an "ABC" Book that they will then get to take home with them.

The Pearson Lebanon Warehouse facility will also be hosting an event on site and employees will be reading to more than 100 children. The Lebanon Mayor James Action will be in attendance.

"Early learning experiences are crucial to the growth and development of young children," said Paul Boger, Vice President and Publisher at Pearson Education. "Jumpstart's Read for the Record provides opportunities for everyone in the United States to support quality early education and to engage in the powerful learning experiences that Jumpstart models in its classrooms every day." Boger encourages readers of all ages to register at www.readfortherecord.org and sign up to read the campaign's official book The Little Engine That Could on August 24.

Jumpstart, a national nonprofit organization, is currently working with 10,000 preschool children throughout the United States to help each child build language, literacy and social skills that are critical for their success upon entering kindergarten. The Jumpstart program pairs college students one-to-one with at-risk preschoolers.

"For several years, Pearson, Starbucks and American Eagle Outfitters have been corporate sponsors of Jumpstart," said Boger. "Now, we are collaborating to create a unique charitable partnership, with Penguin Young Readers Group publishing a custom limited edition of The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper with new art by Loren Long, Pearson underwriting all costs, and Starbucks retailing the book in their 5,000 U.S. stores." American Eagle Outfitters has produced the official Campaign t-shirt. All three partners are hosting Read for the Record events which will involve thousands of their employees across the U.S.

NBC's TODAY Show host Matt Lauer has written the foreword to the custom limited edition of The Little Engine That Could, and will feature Jumpstart's Read for the Record on TODAY August 24.

"Jumpstart is now working in 64 communities in partnership with 70 colleges and universities across the country," said Rob Zeaske, Jumpstart Vice President for Development. "We are aiming for the day when Jumpstart serves in virtually every city and town, working to help the at-risk preschoolers in each community prepare for success in school."

Jumpstart's Read for the Record builds on the important work Jumpstart is doing in communities across the country and will broaden the organization's impact to thousands more children. Through Jumpstart, children like 4 year-old Antwone McCaskell can make extraordinary strides. Antwone was recommended for the Jumpstart program in 2005 because he lacked the language skills needed to speak in full sentences, and therefore had no confidence in his abilities to participate in class. Just six months after entering Jumpstart's program, Antwone had made so much progress that he was among five children chosen to participate in a taping with Matt Lauer of the TODAY Show, as a way to promote Jumpstart's national awareness campaign. While Antwone's story is powerful, it is not unique. Jumpstart's Read for the Record campaign promotes - across the country - the early learning experiences that resulted in Antwone's transformation.

In addition to registering to Read for the Record on August 24, 2006, Jumpstart and Pearson Education recommend the following ways for others to get involved and promote early education:

--Volunteer your time to work with children and teachers at a school, community center, Head Start or child care program;

--Support the creation of high quality preschool experiences in your local community, state, and across the country

--Thank early childhood educators and others who play a vital role in preparing young children to succeed in school and beyond.

--Consider donating a book to one of the many at-risk children who have no books in their homes. You can do this at www.readfortherecord.org

Mrs. Laura Bush is Honorary Chairperson of Jumpstart's Read for the Record, and is supporting the Campaign with public service announcements.

Join Pearson Education on August 24 at the Indianapolis Zoo's Dolphin Pavilion at 1:00 p.m. to support the Read for the Record event. The Indianapolis Zoo is located at 1200 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46222.