Target Stores Donates Books to Schools Across the U.S.

Target Stores has announced the winners of its Library of Books promotion and presented schools with a collective gift of $1 million worth of books for their libraries. The 100 winning schools are located across the country, from small communities to large metropolitan areas. Each winning school will receive a $10,000 gift to purchase books fulfilled by Capstone Press, Compass Point Books and Picture Window Books of the Coughlan Companies in Mankato.

Last fall, Target guests who made purchases with their Target Visa or Target Guest Card were automatically entered in the Library of Books promotion. The winning guests, selected at random, won a $5,000 Target gift card and selected a school to receive the $10,000 gift.

"Through programs like the Library of Books promotion, Target Stores demonstrates its dedication to providing children with the books they need to build a strong educational foundation," said Laysha Ward, vice president of community relations, Target Corporation. "By helping schools customize their libraries with $10,000 worth of books, we hope that a life-long love of reading will grow among students."

"Winning the Target Library of Books promotion is an unexpected surprise that will help our students reap rewards immediately," said Glyn Oliver, principal of Samuel C. Barnes School, Brooklyn, N.Y. "This donation of books fulfills a need for our school by offering students a more diverse range of books. Reading is critical to a student's performance in school, and in life, and this generous gift will help our students prepare for the future."

The list of winning schools includes five schools in Minnesota:

• Apple Valley - Southview Elementary.
• Bloomington - Valley View Middle School.
• Coon Rapids - Northdale Community School.
• Maplewood - Liberty Classical Academy.
• Northfield - Northfield Middle School.

In Superior, Great Lakes Elementary School was among the four winning schools from Wisconsin. To view a complete list of winning schools, visit Target's Web site.

Target Stores considers reading the foundation of all learning and created a national campaign called "Ready. Sit. Read!" to foster a love of reading among children at an early age. "Ready. Sit. Read!" was developed in partnership with the United States Department of Education. In addition to the Library of Books promotion, "Ready. Sit. Read!"  includes partnerships with the national nonprofit organization Reach Out and Read, the Library of Congress "Letters About Literature" project and sponsorship of book festivals across the country.

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