MDC Center Book Drop Event
Monday, Dec. 9 at 2:00 p.m.
Miami Dade College, Wolfson Campus Student Life Plaza
300 NE 2nd Ave
Miami, FL 33132
 
WHO: City of Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado
Lisette Mendez and Delia Lopez, Co-Directors of Programs, The Center for Literature and Theatre @ Miami Dade College
Charles Auslander, President and CEO of The Children’s Trust
Fedrick Ingram, President of United Teachers of Dade
Elizabeth Ramsay, Vice President of United Faculty of Miami Dade College
Corporate Sponsor: Kevin Maloney, CEO of Property Markets Group
MODERATOR: Juan C. Mendieta, Miami Dade College Communications Director

On Monday, December 9, at 2:00 p.m., more than 120,000 books will arrive to the Student Life Plaza at Miami Dade College’s Wolfson campus in Downtown Miami during a press conference calling for a renewed commitment to children’s education, and especially to literacy by The Center for Literature and Theatre @ Miami Dade College, The Children’s Trust, American Federation of Teachers, First Book, United Teachers of Dade, United Faculty of Miami Dade College and corporate sponsor Property Markets Group. The diverse partnership has come together to get books into the hands of Miami-Dade children from low-income families through The Children’s Trust Read to Learn Books for Free program as well as direct distribution to local teachers.
 
“It is inspiring to see the commitment to reading and childhood education from this partnership help meet the critical literacy and education needs in our community,” said City of Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado, who will speak at the press conference. “Books are an essential foundation for motivating children to explore, dream, and achieve their full potential.”
 
“Thanks to this partnership and especially to Property Markets Group and The Children’s Trust, who each generously donated an entire truckload of books for a combined total of 80,000 to the Read to Learn Books for Free program, we are now able to put new books on our shelves and into the hands of children who might have little or no access to them,” said Lissette Mendez, director of programs at The Center for Literature and Theatre @ Miami Dade College.
 
The United Teachers of Dade (UTD) and their national affiliate, the American Federation of Teachers were responsible for securing the remaining 40,000 books to be available for local teachers and UTD members to pick-up for their students following the press conference. 
 
“All children need access to books to develop a love of reading and learning, but sadly many low-income families have to choose between buying food or buying books,” said UTD president Fedrick Ingram. “I am proud of my union for being part of this partnership to bring these books and help reclaim the promise of public education to help all children dream their dreams and achieve them.”