CHICAGO, March 29, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- To promote children's literacy and family reading time, Carl Buddig & Company is partnering with Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) for a second year to support the "Be A Reader" campaign and raise a minimum of $100,000 for RIF. The cause marketing campaign invites consumers to join the fun through purchases of Buddig products and by taking part in key campaign activities supporting RIF and its literacy programs throughout the year.
"We're excited to kick off the second year of our Be A Reader campaign with Reading Is Fundamental and to support the extraordinary work they do to instill a love of reading with our nation's children," said Tom Buddig, executive vice president marketing, Carl Buddig & Company. "Like good nutrition, reading nourishes young minds and sets the stage for future success in life. Through the Be A Reader campaign our goal is to encourage families to read together while providing needed resources to underserved communities."
Along with a $100,000 donation, the Be A Reader campaign will enlist compassionate consumers to join the cause by participating in an online Virtual Book Drive this summer to provide free, new books to children living in poverty. In addition, Buddig will sponsor fun promotions starting with the "Eat, Win, Read" $100,000 Giveaway running March 13th through June 25th and a "Fill Your Tank" sweepstakes later this summer.
Other activities include a "Be A Reader" tour this fall to donate Multicultural Book Collections to RIF programs serving children in grades K-4. Each collection features 45 high-quality books recommended by leading experts to celebrate the diverse characters, themes and situations affecting children of all backgrounds. On-pack graphics promoting the Be A Reader campaign and RIF partnership will be featured on specially marked packages of Buddig lunchmeats through May of 2013.
"RIF would like to thank Buddig lunchmeats for helping so many families discover the joy of reading," said Carol H. Rasco, president and CEO of RIF. "There's an average of just one book for every 300 children in low-income neighborhoods. The Be A Reader campaign is helping to close that gap and inspire young readers and parents to make reading an everyday activity."
As the nation's largest children's literacy nonprofit, RIF has provided 400 million books to more than 35 million children since its founding in 1966. Due to RIF's loss of federal funding last year, corporate funding and consumer advocacy have become important keys to achieving the organization's mission.
A family owned company, Carl Buddig & Company believes that reading and literacy go hand-in-hand with good nutrition to support a lifelong love of learning. The Be A Reader campaign builds upon the company's interest in strengthening family values and giving back to local communities.
To learn more about the Be A Reader campaign visit www.rif.org or www.buddig.com.
About Carl Buddig & Company
Carl Buddig & Company, based in Homewood, Ill., has been nourishing families for more than 100 years with the very best in taste, variety and convenience. Now Buddig is nourishing young minds as a proud supporter of Reading Is Fundamental (RIF). Carl Buddig & Company is a family-owned, privately held company managed by the third generation of the original founder. The Buddig family business got its start as a butcher shop on Chicago's south side in the 1880s. Since 1940, Carl Buddig & Company has offered thin-sliced lean meats for sandwiches, snacks and special recipes. Visit www.buddig.com for more information about Carl Buddig products.
About Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF)
Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF), founded in 1966, motivates children to read by working with them, their parents, and community members to make reading a fun and beneficial part of everyday life. RIF's highest priority is reaching underserved children from birth to age 8. Through community volunteers in every state and U.S. territory, RIF provided 4 million children with 15 million new, free books and literacy resources last year. For more information and to access reading resources, visit RIF's website at www.rif.org.
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The following pictures are available for download:
| [Image] | Be A Reader Logo |