Press Releases

For Immediate Release
February 2, 2007

For more information, contact
Chris Florence
(585) 395-2754
cflorenc@brockport.edu

SUNY Brockport Has a Big Heart -- College's Book Drive to Give 1,000 Books to 1,000 Kids

Brockport, NY – The State University of New York College at Brockport will launch its book drive – “Have a Heart. Give a Book.” Campaign, which will run February 12 through 23. The goal of the book drive is to put a new book in the hands of 1,000 local children at the Brockport Central School District, the Brockport Child Development Center, and the Rochester City School District, including School #5.

The College’s Have a Heart. Give a Book. Campaign is part of the Rochester Education Foundation's Give Back. Give Books. Campaign, which will put a new book into the hands of 10,000 children in Rochester City Schools. SUNY Brockport is the only area college or university that is partnering with the literacy program.

SUNY Brockport’s campaign has much support from a dedicated committee, chaired by Jill Campbell, assistant to the vice president for the Division of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, the Brockport Student Government, the Division of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, the Brockport Auxiliary Service Corporation and the College’s Barnes & Noble Bookstore, which is stocking a number of books from the drive’s reading list and offering them at discounted prices.

“Our Have a Heart. Give a Book. planning committee is very enthusiastic about the book drive,” said Campbell. “Coupled with the tremendous excitement and support we are receiving as we contact campus organizations, students, faculty, staff, alumni, emeriti and friends, we know that our book drive goal to enrich the lives and touch the hearts of 1,000 children with 1,000 books is attainable.”

Throughout the campaign, volunteers will be soliciting the campus community for donations toward the purchase of a book or books. Tables will be set up in the Union, February 12–15 and 19–22, 2:30–4 pm, with volunteers accepting donations and signing up individuals for the purchase of books.

Also during the campaign, there will be a special story time for children from the Brockport Child Development Center with special guest readers from the College community. Readers include President John R. Halstead and Mrs. Kathy Halstead, College Senate President Jeff Lashbrook and Brockport Student Government President Frank Guidice.

President Halstead will read Dr. Seuss’s Green Eggs and Ham, February 12; Guidice will read Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems, February 13; Kathy Halstead will read Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey, February 14; and Lashbrook will read Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin’s Click, Clack, Moo, February 20.

Other guest readers include Professor of Political Science and International Studies Steve Ullman, Secretary to the President Julie Pruss, Director of Educational Opportunity Program Gary Owens and Associate Professor of Business Administration and Economics Rich Fenton and Mrs. Joan Fenton.

Ullman will read Marianne Richmond’s Hooray for you! A Celebration of You-ness, February 15; Pruss will read Laura Numeroff’s If You Give a Pig a Party, February 19; Owens will read Whoopi Goldberg’s Whoopi’s Big Book of Manners, February 21; and Dr. and Mrs. Fenton will read Mordicai Gerstein’s The Man Who Walked Between The Towers, February 22. All readings will take place in the Seymour College Union Main Lounge at 3 pm. Snacks will follow.

President Halstead, Guidice and Lashbrook will present the ceremonial handoffs of books to the representatives from the Brockport Central School District, the Brockport Child Development Center and the Rochester Education Foundation at a brief reception on Monday, March 5, 2:30–3:30 pm in Drake Memorial Library, Special Collections Room, 2nd floor.

The representatives are Superintendent James Fallon from the Brockport Central School District, Executive Director Norman Roberts of the Brockport Child Development Center, and Executive Director Patricia Braus of the Rochester Education Foundation.

Although the official opening of the campaign is February 12, donations are currently being accepted. Visit www.basc1.com to learn more and donate online.

Send this Page to a Friend

The College at Brockport, State University of New York
350 New Campus Drive * Brockport, New York 14420-2931
(585) 395-2754 * FAX (585) 395-2723 * www.brockport.edu