View printer-friendly version

<<  Back

Pitney Bowes Employees Support Literacy Efforts in Local Communities

Company Continues Its Philanthropic Commitment to help close the achievement gap

STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr. 5, 2012-- Pitney Bowes (NYSE:PBI) employees with the support of the Pitney Bowes Foundation, will help children improve their literacy skills and narrow the achievement gap in schools, as part of the company’s annual Global Volunteer Month program.

Global Volunteer Month Overview

Pitney Bowes employee volunteers will use one of three Share the Message: READ! materials developed by Reading Is Fundamental (www.rif.org) with funding from the Pitney Bowes Foundation. Communications-themed guides on Animal Communications, Languages of the World, and Communicating through the Arts feature a children’s book and related arts and crafts activities that are appropriate for students in grades K-5.

Pitney Bowes encourages its employees to use the guides to bring the program to in-school or after-school literacy activities. Employees are provided with toolkits that include everything needed for a successful volunteer experience. Volunteers in over 15 U.S. cities are participating, and are provided with materials and supplies made possible by grants from the Pitney Bowes Foundation.

“Employees can make a meaningful difference in a child’s life in a very short time,” states Mike Monahan, chief financial officer, Pitney Bowes, who is also a Reading Is Fundamental board member. “Our employees have fun while they deliver this effective and engaging learning experience to children.”

Reading Is Fundamental has been a proud partner of Pitney Bowes since 2004,” states Carol H. Rasco, president and CEO of RIF. “With the support of PB and its foundation, we've trained early childcare providers, hosted family reading celebrations, and created volunteer resources to inspire children to be lifelong readers. There is only one book for every 300 kids living in poverty in this country. Initiatives like Share the Message: READ! are essential tools in fulfilling RIF’s mission to get books and literacy resources to the kids who need them most.”

Employees in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and India will implement the program in their countries. Outside of the U.S., employee volunteers work with local charity partners to source the materials and supplies and age-appropriate books, the costs of which will be covered by Team Volunteer Grants from the Pitney Bowes Foundation.

Global Volunteer Month Kick-Off Event

The month of volunteering will be kicked off with a Family Literacy Night this evening at Stepping Stones Children’s Museum in Norwalk, CT from 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. (EST). Through this event, Pitney Bowes employees will read to hundreds of Fairfield County students, assist them with related fun crafts, and help them as they choose their very own book to take home.

The event is part of the Museum’s Open Arms program. Through this program, Stepping Stones opens its doors free of charge to ensure that everyone in our community can benefit from the fantastic enrichment opportunities regardless of any financial, language or special needs barriers.

Attendees will have an opportunity to visit the new Pitney Bowes Foundation Family and Teacher Resource Center at Stepping Stones. This bright new space is overflowing with interactive kits, books, puzzles, multimedia games and other resources. The Center provides parents, caregivers and teachers with access to the latest and best information about learning through play, early literacy, and 21st century learning skills, and the developmental needs of young children, helping them to facilitate a child’s learning – at home or at school.

About Pitney Bowes: Delivering more than 90 years of innovation, Pitney Bowes provides software, hardware and services that integrate physical and digital communications channels. Long known for making its customers more productive, Pitney Bowes is increasingly helping other companies grow their business through advanced customer communications management. Pitney Bowes is a $5.3 billion company with 29,000 employees worldwide. Pitney Bowes: Every connection is a new opportunity™. www.pb.com

About the Pitney Bowes Foundation: The Pitney Bowes Foundation is a private entity with a mission to support education, literacy and the diverse community interests of Pitney Bowes employees. We commit our resources to closing the achievement gap and preparing the workforce of tomorrow. For information about these programs and other Pitney Bowes Corporate Citizenship and Philanthropy initiatives, please visit pb.com/community.

About Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF): Founded in 1966, RIF 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.

About Stepping Stones Museum: Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk, CT., is an award-winning, private, non-profit 501(c)(3) children’s museum committed to broadening and enriching the lives of children and families. Located on five acres in Mathews Park, the recently expanded LEED Gold certified museum encompasses five hands-on galleries, a state-of-the-art multimedia theater, a Family and Teacher Resource Center, café and retail store. Stepping Stones also offers onsite educational events and workshops, school and group programs and traveling resources for schools, libraries and youth-serving organizations. For more information, visit www.steppingstonesmuseum.org.

Source: Pitney Bowes Inc.

Pitney Bowes
Angel D. Peoples, 203-351-6475
External Communications
angel.peoples@pb.com