Giving Together
> Blog > Giving Together A Book-Filled Weekend with Rogers and First Book Canada
There is no better feeling for us than when we go out into the community with our corporate partners to create special moments for kids across the country. On June 8 and June 9, employees from Rogers offices in Brampton and Toronto joined First Book Canada to “give together” and provide over 20,000 new books to kids in the Greater Toronto Area.
A Pop Up Book Distribution in Brampton
First Book Canada and Rogers hosted a Pop Up Book Distribution at the Rogers Brampton office where we distributed books to our dedicated members in the immediate area. These books will go home with the kids they serve, helping to build home libraries – just in time for the summer holidays.
Three Unique Reading Celebrations
We also hosted three Reading Celebrations in Brampton and Toronto over the weekend. The first of these events was at a Brampton Library branch with Canadian children’s author Lana Button, who shared her book My Teacher is Not Here! with children and Rogers volunteers participating in the event. The morning also included children spending time reading with volunteers and being given brand new books to take home and keep!
The second Reading Celebration took place at the Rogers office in downtown Toronto with Jerry Howarth, an American Canadian former sportscaster for the Toronto Blue Jays and author of Hello, Friends!: Stories from My Life and Blue Jays Baseball. Jerry spoke with youth from the DAREArts program and Lord Dufferin Junior and Senior Public School about his career as a radio broadcaster. The youth had a chance to record their own broadcasts and they took home brand new copies of Jerry’s book!
The third Reading Celebration was an energetic Storytime Picnic in Toronto with Canadian children’s author and illustrator Ruth Ohi and Story Planet, a local non-profit organization. Story Planet hosted a fun workshop and Ruth encouraged kids to make their own illustrations. All the kids received brand new books for their home libraries.
Whether through a Book Distribution or a Reading Celebration, our partners are helping us make a difference in the lives of Canadian kids. Rogers employees volunteered their time over this weekend and showed how much fun and enjoyment reading can bring.