Toys for Tots Literacy Program Targets Summer Learning Slide

San Diego, ---

The UPS Store Helps Close the Book on Illiteracy One Print Job at a Time

Today, The UPS Store® network launched its spring Toys for Tots Literacy Program donation drive focused on the importance of summer reading. Throughout May, its customers can help keep children learning all summer long.

According to the National Summer Learning Association, children can lose up to three months of what they’ve learned during the school year over summer break. This “summer slide” can be even more devastating to children in lower-income families where reading scores are disproportionately affected and access to books during the summer is limited.

To help raise awareness of childhood illiteracy as well as funds to purchase books for children in need, for every online print job customers submit during the month of May, Mail Boxes Etc., Inc. (MBE), franchisor of The UPS Store, will purchase a book for a less-fortunate child. MBE will donate up to $20,000 worth of books to the Toys for Tots Literacy Program. Each book is valued at $5.

“Since our network launched the Toys for Tots Literacy Program in March 2008, with the help of our customers, we have raised nearly $1.6 million to purchase books for less-fortunate children throughout the country,” said Stuart Mathis, president of MBE. “We are now offering our print customers an easy way to give back to a deserving child through our easy-to-use online print site.”

In addition to the online print promotion, through May 31 participating The UPS Store locations will collect donations in exchange for children’s activity sheets, which include a 25-cent color copy coupon. The UPS Store locations will continue additional fundraising activities throughout the year, including a coin box program for customers to donate their spare change. One hundred percent of donations go to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, which will use the donations to purchase books for less-fortunate children in the local community.

The Toys for Tots Literacy Program, a year-round initiative of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, provides the nation’s most economically disadvantaged children access to books with the goal of enhancing their ability to read and communicate effectively so they can compete academically and succeed in life.

“Reading not only helps children expand their imaginations, it also helps them strengthen vital skills for a brighter future,” said LtGen. Pete Osman, USMC (Ret), president and CEO of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. “Kids want to have fun during the summer and books can help our nation’s less-fortunate children take their minds on a journey, which can be just as exciting as traveling during the summer break.”



The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is a not-for-profit organization authorized by the U.S. Marine Corps and the Department of Defense to provide fundraising and other necessary support for the annual Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. Now in its 64th year, Toys for Tots provides joy and a message of hope to less fortunate children through the gift of a new toy or book during the Christmas holiday season. Our gifts offer these children hope, recognition and a positive memory they will cherish for a lifetime. Many of the gifts we provide, such as books, games and sports equipment, make a significant contribution to the educational, social and recreational development of these children. In 2010, Marines distributed gifts to 7.2 million children in over 700 communities nationwide. The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation relies on individual donations from the American public as well as support from corporate sponsors. For more information, visit www.toysfortots.org.

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About the UPS Store With more than 4,700 locations, The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. network comprises the world’s largest franchise system of retail shipping, postal, print and business service centers throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada. In the U.S. and Puerto Rico, The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. locations are independently owned and operated by licensed franchisees of Mail Boxes Etc., Inc., a UPS subsidiary. In Canada, locations are independently owned and operated by licensed franchisees of master licensee MBEC Communications, L.P. For additional information, visit www.theupsstore.com