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    ATLANTA, Dec. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Primrose Schools, a leader
 in early childhood education, recently donated $146,000 to Reach Out and
 Read, a national not-for-profit organization that makes books and reading a
 part of pediatric care -- especially for low income families. More than
 20,000 students from 170 Primrose Schools across the country participated
 in school- based fundraising events, and together, they raised $146,000.
 
     (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071226/NYW004 )
 
     According to Dr. Mary Zurn, vice president of education for Primrose
 Schools, the donation reflects Primrose's goal of promoting early literacy
 skills among young children. "Reading provides one of the best indicators
 of a child's future academic success in elementary and high school. Every
 child should be read to regularly and should be encouraged to use books as
 a resource and for entertainment."
 
     Students from Primrose Schools showed their love for reading during
 donation events across the country. During each event, students announced
 the $146,000 donation, held 'rally' signs that touted "I love to read!"
 "Dr. Seuss rules!" and "Read for fun!" The children heard a story from Dr.
 Zurn, while representatives from Reach Out and Read detailed the impact of
 the donation.
 
     "Our Primrose students across the country have worked extremely hard
 over the past year because they truly wanted to help other children to
 experience the joy of reading," said Jo Kirchner, president and CEO of
 Primrose Schools. "Early literacy is a critical issue that must be
 addressed. We look forward to working together with Reach Out and Read to
 bring books and a love of reading into the lives of all children locally
 and throughout the country for years to come," she added.
 
     The Reach Out and Read program reaches more than 3 million children,
 between the ages of 6 months and 5-years-old, annually by providing them
 with a book at well child visits. In addition, participating doctors and
 nurses receive training from Reach Out and Read to properly educate parents
 about the importance of reading with their children. Funds from the
 Primrose Schools donation will enable Reach Out and Read to support its
 programs in areas of need throughout the country -- with a special emphasis
 on Primrose communities. Representatives from the organization believe the
 Primrose donation will allow Reach Out and Read to help more than 40,000
 children living in poverty.
 
     "On behalf of the entire Reach Out and Read program, I am thrilled to
 receive this extremely generous gift from Primrose. We're proud to partner
 with these children, and greatly appreciate their desire to promote early
 childhood literacy in their communities. Primrose's commitment to early
 childhood education is a natural fit with our goal to encourage a love of
 reading," said Martha Gershun, executive director, Reach Out and Read
 National Center.
 
     Preschoolers at Primrose Schools across the country helped raise the
 funds through the school's character development program that teaches
 students to care for others. Giving back to the community is a key
 component of Primrose Schools' exclusive Balanced Learning(R) curriculum,
 which uniquely balances character development with academics and play.
 
     About Primrose Schools
 
     Primrose School Franchising Company, Acworth, GA, is the country's
 leader in early childhood education. The company currently operates more
 than 170 schools in 15 states and is celebrating its 25th anniversary in
 2007. The Primrose Balanced Learning(R) curriculum combines the two leading
 philosophies in early childhood education -- teacher-directed and
 child-initiated -- with a balance of learning, character development and
 play. Primrose was named No. 1 in growth for 2002 by Child Care Business,
 has twice been named the top child care franchise by Entrepreneur magazine
 and was featured by that publication in a 2003 article. Primrose is the
 first educational child care franchise to receive accreditation from the
 Commission on International Trans-Regional Accreditation, the Southern
 Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School
 Improvement or the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation
 and School Improvement. For more information on Primrose Schools, visit
 www.primroseschools.com.
 
     About Reach Out and Read
 
     Reach Out and Read is a national, non-profit children's literacy
 program that works with medical providers to reach the children at greatest
 risk -- children aged 6 months to 5 years living at or near poverty.
 Medical providers participating in Reach Out and Read give books to their
 youngest patients at check-ups and advise their parents about the
 importance of reading. More than 20 million books have been distributed
 through Reach Out and Read, which currently serves 25 percent of the most
 impoverished children in the U.S. For more information visit
 www.reachoutandread.org.
 
 
 

SOURCE Primrose Schools