The charity will kicked off its 10th annual distribution today the first day of school and will continue to deliver books to children during the first 6 weeks of the school year. Through the Books4Kids program, four and five year old children receive a book bag containing a 300-page Brain Quest Workbook, a reading book, crayons and a pencil, while three-year-old Kindergarten students receive a small reading book, crayons and a pencil.

Books4Kids Jamaica announced today the charity has started its 2017 book distribution, during which sponsors will turn out to personally deliver book bags to 11,500 children in approximately 120 schools across all 14 parishes.

It is expected that the total number of schools to receive books will exceed 120 this year as the charity continues to add more schools to its program, expanding its effort to promote early childhood literacy and numeracy. The program this year is adding schools in St. Thomas to the distribution list.

Many of the charity’s sponsors are expected to take part in this year’s distribution, including Delta Air Lines, Virgin Atlantic Airways, jetBlue Airways, Jamaica Tours Limited, Billy Craig Insurance, Hanover Charities, Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton Resort & Spa, Iberostar Hotels & Resorts, Couples Resorts, AJAS Aviation Services, Half Moon Hotel, Seaboard Marine Jamaica, the Orocabessa Foundation, Golden Eye and the RJR Foundation. As in the past, several MPs are also expected hand out books at local schools in support of the effort.

“Our partnership with The Palmyra Foundation’s Books4Kids Jamaica programme ensures that infants across Jamaica have access to the reading tools that their economic circumstances make inaccessible. Over 60,000 infants have benefitted from this programme so far and we appreciate this opportunity to continue to partner with The Palmyra Foundation to have a lasting and positive impact on our society.”

Ms. Nordia Craig, Manager, Business Development and Marketing of The Gleaner Company Ltd.

This year’s books were shipped to the island courtesy of Seaboard & Freight Jamaica Ltd. “Seaboard Marine is delighted to once again partner with The Palmyra Foundation for the seventh year, on this venture which is so positive for our children and for Jamaica!” Said Coreen Williams, Director of Marketing, Seaboard Marine.

Local transportation company Jamaica Tours Limited (JTL) is providing its transportation services for the 8th year running. In addition to books and educational materials, Books4Kids will be bringing books, footballs, shoes and bags of rice courtesy of Food for the Poor to schools located in remote areas of the island.

Books4Kids Jamaica wishes to thank the many sponsors, corporations and individuals who have made this year’s book distribution possible through donations of services, items and monetary contributions. The majority of funds for this year’s book distribution were raised through the charity’s 2017 Online Charity Auction featuring more than 100 worldwide vacation experiences, flights, cruises, services and art generously donated by sponsors. Books4Kids Jamaica also thanks The Ministry of Education, The Ministry of Finance, The Jamaican Customs Department and Keith Thorpe Ltd. for their assistance in getting the books to Jamaica.