Pencils Of Promise Celebrates International Literacy Day

NEW YORK, Sept. 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, in honor of International Literacy Day, for-purpose organization Pencils of Promise (PoP), is raising awareness of the 250 million children who lack basic reading and writing skills. PoP, whose mission is to provide quality education for children in the developing world, has collaborated with several partners this back-to-school season to raise funds and continue to increase literacy rates around the world.

To celebrate International Literacy Day, Gayle King will "flip the switch" for PoP and light the world-famous Empire State Building's tower lights in yellow, like a pencil. Additional partners include digital concierge service Reserve, daily email newsletter to stay in-the-know theSkimm, optimistic lifestyle brand Life is Good, aerial content company Fly NYON, the world's leading save-for-later reading service Pocket, NYC-based apparel brand Zara Terez and online personality Kid President. Wattpad, the world's largest community of online readers and writers, will also feature PoP Founder Adam Braun's book, The Promise of a Pencil, for free today and tomorrow on the Wattpad mobile app and website.

PoP was founded in 2008 with the goal of increasing quality education for children in the developing world. Since inception, the organization has built over 300 schools and educated more than 30,000 students.

"Pencils of Promise provides the means, methods and materials necessary to increase literacy in Ghana, Guatemala and Laos. We're changing what a learning experience can be for a child anywhere in the world," said Michael Dougherty, CEO, Pencils of Promise.  "We are thrilled to be partnering with these organizations to further raise awareness and funds this back-to-school season."

Throughout International Literacy Day, supporters can show where they read via social media using #WhereIRead to activate a $1 donation match. PoP is also creating a NYC-wide moving art installation to raise awareness. For more information, please visit www.PencilsofPromise.org/BacktoSchool and follow @PencilsofPromis on Twitter.

About Pencils of Promise:  
Pencils of Promise ("PoP") is a for-purpose organization founded in 2008 with the goal of increasing access to quality education for children in the developing world. PoP works with communities across the globe to build schools and create programs that provide educational opportunities for children, no matter where they are born or what resources they have.  To date, PoP has built over 300 schools and provided access to education to more than 30,000 students throughout Laos, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Ghana, establishing itself as a leader amongst the innovative global nonprofits working toward sustainable social change. 

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SOURCE Pencils of Promise