RIVERSIDE, Calif.– Teachers in the Inland Empire recently picked up about 40,000 books for their students in a free giveaway thanks to a collaboration between Altura Credit Union, Cal State San Bernardino’s Watson and Associates Literacy Center, First Book and SolarMax Technologies.
Altura CU covered a portion of the logistical costs of distributing the books and made a donation to CSUSB for the Literacy Center. SolarMax stored the books and served as the distribution center. About 300 teachers picked up books. Employees from Altura were among the 85 volunteers who organized the 32 pallets of books and assisted with distribution.
“Learning to read is critical to a child’s success both in school and as an adult,” said Altura President and CEO Mark Hawkins. “Access of books helps children develop those needed literacy skills. That’s why Altura happily agreed to participate in this project.”
Tina Covington, Altura’s vice president of Business Development, added, “This program is a perfect collaboration for us. It helps teachers and students by giving books to those who most need them in the Inland Empire.”
At right, a young student shows off a free book she received, one of 40,000 given away to local teachers and students through a collaboration between Altura Credit Union, Cal State San Bernardino’s Watson and Associates Literacy Center, First Book and SolarMax Technologies.
Below, Altura Credit Union employees, shown here, were among 85 volunteers who sorted 32 pallets of books and helped distribute them to Inland Empire teachers and students.