FasTracKids® Celebrates Literacy Awareness Month with Free Family Event and Book Collection Drive for San Diego Council on Literacy

FasTracKids Enrichment CenterSM of San Diego Counties celebrate Jumpstart’s Read for the Record, a national campaign to engage hundreds of thousands of children and adults in breaking the world record for the most children reading the same book on the same day. FasTracKids in Carmel Valley, La Mesa and Tierrasanta will open their doors on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007 to host the community in a fun-filled, free event to include a group reading event for children and their families. Children can participate in interactive craft and art activities to support the book chosen, The Story of Ferdinand. Named one of the “100 Best Books for Children,” The Story of Ferdinand is about a bull who would rather sit and smell the flowers than enter the bullfighting ring like his peers.

RSVP is strongly recommended. Please contact the FasTracKids Enrichment Center in your neighborhood for more information:

FasTracKids of Carmel Valley. Event time: 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. 4653 Carmel Mountain Road, Suite 304, San Diego, CA 92130 in the Torrey Hills Marketplace (Vons Shopping Center). RSVP to 858-720-0111 or send a message to cv@fastrackids.com.

FasTracKids of La Mesa. Event time: 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. 5268 Baltimore Avenue, La Mesa, CA 91942 in the Baltimore West Shopping Center, adjacent to Baker’s Square restaurant. RSVP to 619-465-4860 or send a message to lamesa@fastrackids.com.

FasTracKids of Tierrasanta. Event time: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. and again from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. 6020-B Santo Road, San Diego, CA 92124 in the Tierrasanta Gateway Center, by the US Post Office. RSVP to 858-565-0054 or send a message to tierrasanta@fastrackids.com.

BOOK DRIVE INFORMATION: Until October 1, 2007, the three FasTracKids Enrichment Centers will also host a children’s book drive. They are collecting new and gently used children’s books that are age appropriate for children ages 8 and under. The books will be donated to The San Diego Council on Literacy, a non-profit organization that provides resources and leadership to support and build the Literacy Network in new and existing literacy efforts. This network of more than 20 literacy service programs provides no-cost literacy assistance to approximately 75,000 adults, families and children each year. Parents and families who donate books at the centers will receive a small gift in appreciation from FasTracKids of San Diego County.

To learn more about the book drive and the Sept. 20 free community event, please visit www.sdenrichmentplace.com or call the FasTracKids Enrichment Center in your area.