Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) is committed to supporting local efforts that promote literacy, wellness and academic success among children, particularly those at risk to significant learning barriers due to low income.
To support this mission, Konica Minolta has partnered with Books for Kids to help the organization build its first Zen Den in a local underserved school.
On Thursday, August 1, 2019, a team of Konica Minolta employees spent the day at Dewitt Reformed Church Head Start School in New York City. They helped clear the designated area of all items, cleaned and decorated the Zen Den. Volunteers also cleaned and organized other areas of the school such as the library and outdoor play space.
The Zen Den is a space for students and faculty to relax and refocus. The inspiration came to a faculty member at Head Start when she attended a trauma training program and learned how Zen spaces can help improve the overall health of a school.
With each classroom having its own small Zen area already, the Zen Den tied in perfectly with wellness and literacy initiatives already in place at the school. The area will be a peaceful space equipped with yoga mats, books, greenery and more to help individuals decompress.
“Konica Minolta believes in supporting literacy education to help shape our next generation of innovators,” said Allison Kern, Senior CSR and Internal Engagement Specialist, Konica Minolta. “We are proud to have worked with Books for Kids to help build a peaceful area where both students and teachers can go to relax and read, enhancing their overall academic experience.”
“We’re so grateful to Konica Minolta for supporting the library and Zen Den at Dewitt Reformed School,” said Robin Adelson, Executive Director, the Books for Kids Foundation. “Our libraries ensure children have books and resources to help them develop the strong foundation they need to be successful in school and life."
Konica Minolta hosted a drive at its corporate office to gather supplies for the Zen Den and raise awareness for the event. The team collected several pillows and more than two dozen yoga mats to help decorate the Zen Den space. In addition to volunteer efforts, Konica Minolta donated cleaning supplies and contributed $5,000 towards Books for Kids programming.
The Zen Den will officially open at the start of the school year in early September.
About Konica Minolta
Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. is reshaping and revolutionizing the Workplace of the Future™ with its expansive smart office product portfolio from IT Services (All Covered), ECM, Managed Print Services and industrial and commercial print solutions. Konica Minolta has been recognized as the #1 Brand for Customer Loyalty in the MFP Office Copier Market by Brand Keys for twelve consecutive years, and is proud to be ranked on the Forbes 2017 America's Best Employers list. The World Technology Awards recently named the company a finalist in the IT Software category. Konica Minolta, Inc. has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for seven consecutive years. It partners with its clients to give shape to ideas and work to bring value to our society. For more information, please visit us online and follow Konica Minolta on Facebook, YouTube, Linked In and Twitter.
About the Books for Kids Foundation
The mission of the Books for Kids Foundation is to promote literacy among all children with a special emphasis on low-income and at-risk preschool-aged children. Books for Kids creates libraries, donates books, and implements literacy programs to develop the critical early foundation and skills which young children need to be successful in life.
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