Phoenix and northern Arizona McDonald’s restaurants and Southwest Human Development are hosting Día de los Niños on Saturday, April 30th, to raise awareness about early literacy.
Beginning at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 30th, the first 100 parents to visit their local restaurant will receive a 2016 Happy Meal book & FREE Vanilla Cone or Apple Slices, while supplies last. A total of 20,000 books and cones will be given away to families at Phoenix and northern Arizona McDonald’s restaurants. Four Harper Collins children’s books from the 2016 Happy Meal Book program will be distributed: Pete the Cat, Paddington, Clark the Shark, and Happy Valentine’s Day, Mouse!
On April 30th, 20 cents from every Happy Meal sold at Phoenix and northern Arizona McDonald’s restaurants will be donated to Southwest Human Development’s First Edition: A Book for Babies and Toddlers Too! Project, to help fund early literacy programs that prepare young children for school.
Southwest Human Development, Arizona’s largest nonprofit dedicated to early childhood development, created Books for Babies … and Toddlers, Too!, a comprehensive early literacy social venture that incorporates crowdfunding, a children’s book writing contest, and essentially turns the nonprofit into its own children’s book publisher. For every book purchased, Southwest Human Development will provide an additional book to a child in need. The initiative also helps fund high-quality early literacy programs throughout the Valley that support parents to ensure their children are ready to learn when they begin kindergarten.
“Our First Edition project goes beyond just putting more books in the hands of children,” said Jake Adams, chief development officer of Southwest Human Development. “The revenue generated from this initiative funds our early literacy programs that provide families with the tools and resources they need to ensure healthy learning experiences for their young children.
There’s only one book for every 300 kids in low-income neighborhoods, and we’re looking to change that,” he explained. “We are thrilled McDonald’s is raising awareness of the importance of early reading with this event and able to help meet a critical need for many Arizona families.”
For questions about the Books for Babies … and Toddlers, Too! Project, please call (602) 808-GIVE (4483) or visit www.firsteditionproject.com. Learn more about additional Southwest Human Development early childhood programs at www.swhd.org.