Read All About it: Family Literacy Day® 2009 a Major Success
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January 29, 2009 – TORONTO, ON – ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation and Family Literacy Day Founding Sponsor Honda Canada are pleased to announce that Family Literacy Day (FLD) 2009, the eleventh year for the initiative that celebrates families reading and learning together on a daily basis, was a major success.
“Congratulations to the more than 1,500 libraries, literacy organizations, schools, homes and workplaces who led literacy-themed Family Literacy Day events. Canadians highlighted the importance of parents and children reading together in a very big way,” says Margaret Eaton, President, ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation. “A special thank you to our Family Literacy Day Founding Sponsor Honda Canada and Official Family Literacy Day World Record Attempt Sponsor Oxford Learning for their valued support of the literacy cause.”
“Honda Canada is proud to support Family Literacy Day and to have watched it grow over the last 11 years has been very rewarding,” says Jerry Chenkin, Executive Vice President, Honda Canada. “Thanks to the enthusiasm and efforts of ABC CANADA, literacy organizations and community partners, this national initiative has supported an important investment made by our Honda family – an investment in literacy and learning.”
January 27th was also marked as Family Literacy Day by the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. Though FLD is officially celebrated on January 27 annually, many events also take place in the days and weeks leading up to the actual day. The Family Literacy Day World Record Attempt was a prelude to FLD to engage Canadians in 30 minutes of reading together between 2:00 pm EST on January 23 and 2:00 pm EST on January 24, 2009 to help break the Guinness World Record™ for “Most Children Reading with an Adult, Multiple Locations.”
Pre-registration numbers for the FLD World Record Attempt indicated that more than 190,000 participants planned to participate, which more than doubles the current U.S. record of 78,791 adults and children reading together.
Before numbers can be finalized however, event coordinators in each participating location must submit documentation from their FLD World Record Attempt event, including registration forms, witness statements and photos, to ABC CANADA by February 6, 2009. ABC CANADA will compile the information and send to the Guinness World Records’ head office in London, England for verification, a process that may take several weeks.
"This is a wonderful Guinness World Record Attempt - so many Canadians reading all at the same time. We applaud ABC CANADA's commitment to literacy and Canadians' support of this attempt. We still have to validate the results with London, but at this stage, it certainly looks as though we may have a new record!” says Carey Low, Canadian Record Keeper, Guinness World Records.
For more information, visit www.FamilyLiteracyDay.ca.
About Family Literacy Day
Family Literacy Day, held annually on January 27, was developed by ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation and Honda Canada in 1999 to encourage families to read and learn together on a daily basis. Last year, for Family Literacy Day’s tenth year celebrations, it is estimated that over 275,000 Canadians participated in literacy activities at home and in schools, libraries and literacy organizations across the country. For more information, visit www.FamilyLiteracyDay.ca.
About Honda Canada
Honda is the world’s pre-eminent maker of engines for automobiles, motorcycles and power equipment. With 135 manufacturing facilities in 28 countries worldwide, Honda now attracts more than 23 million customers annually. Honda Canada manufactures the Honda Ridgeline, Civic sedan and coupe, the Acura CSX and MDX, in addition to fuel-efficient four cylinder engines at its three plants in Alliston, Ontario.
About Oxford Learning
Since 1984, Oxford Learning has been using cognitive learning techniques to help children develop new ways of thinking, concentrating, listening, and remembering. Oxford Learning goes beyond tutoring to help students reach their learning potential, not just for one grade or one year, but for a lifetime.
About ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation
ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation is Canada’s private-sector voice championing adult literacy. The national charity envisions a Canada where individuals, regardless of their circumstances, are provided the opportunities to increase the skills that prepare people for realizing their full potential at work, at home and in the community. To learn more, visit www.abc-canada.org.
Media Contacts:
Karen Benner
Manager of Corporate Communications
ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation
Office: 1-800-303-1004 ext. 122
Mobile: 647-588-7277
Email: kbenner@abc-canada.org
Ashley Tilley
Communications Coordinator
Office: 1-800-303-1004 ext. 127
Mobile: 905-767-4225
email: atilley@abc-canada.org
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