WHITE PLAINS—In support of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Literacy Initiative and Book Drive, employees at the White Plains office of the New York Power Authority (NYPA) collected over 800 books that will be directed to children in elementary schools and medical programs in New York City under the Reach Out and Read of Greater New York and New York City Department of Literacy.

In keeping with Dr. King’s dream that our children would “one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character,” NYPA employees organized and reached out to their fellow employees, employees of the other businesses in their White Plains office building and building visitors, and received generous donations totaling over 800 new and gently-used books.  This is the second consecutive year for the Book Drive and brings the total contribution-to-date of more than 2,000 books.

Reach Out and Read of Greater New York trains doctors and nurses to advise parents about the importance of reading aloud and to give free, quality books to children from six months to five years of age at pediatric check-ups.  By building on the relationship between families and medical providers, Reach Out and Read helps families and communities encourage early literacy skills so children enter school programs prepared for success in reading.

The New York City Department of Literacy’s mission is to ensure that each student in the New York City school system becomes an accomplished reader and writer.  Their literacy efforts celebrate the best practices and effective strategies for all students and teachers as they work together towards achieving their goals. 

NYPA provides low-cost power for New York City municipal buildings and facilities (including schools, police and fire stations, and public hospitals), the subways, Metro North Rail Road and a number of commercial, industrial and non-profit customers who have qualified under economic development programs.