BAM! stores in WV to donate 10 percent of sales to Read Aloud on Oct. 27

by Events

At all Books-a-Million stores in West Virginia on Oct. 27, tell the cashier you want to support Read Aloud West Virginia, and the store will donate 10 percent of the purchase amount to help Read Aloud put books on the minds and in the hands of West Virginia children.

Stores in Barboursville, Beckley, Bluefield, Bridgeport, Martinsburg, Morgantown, Charleston, Vienna and Wheeling are participating in Books-a-Million’s Bookfair Program with Read Aloud for the third time. In Charleston, both stores at Dudley Farms Plaza on Corridor G and in the Charleston Town Center mall are participating.

Read Aloud volunteers will be in stores on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018 to answer questions, share information and sign up volunteers.

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Books-A-Million statewide book fair to be held September 30

by BooksEventsNewsSocial MediaSupporters

Mark your calendars for September 30th! The statewide Books-A-Million book fair benefiting Read Aloud West Virginia will return in ten West Virginia locations.

Customers visiting BAM stores on Saturday, September 30th, can donate 10 percent of their total purchase to benefit reading programs across the state. Individual stores will also host story times, and Read Aloud volunteers will visit with customers throughout the day.

Due to the hard work of Read Aloud volunteers, last year’s event was a huge success and provided the opportunity to have the event again this year!

“Based on last year’s book fair, Books-A-Million stores in West Virginia are honored to be working with Read Aloud West Virginia again,” said BAM District Manager Ed Reidy. “We understand the importance of creating a love for reading in our children. The Read Aloud organization, through their various programs, combined with their reach into almost every West Virginia county, presents the perfect partnership.”

Advertising for the book fair can be seen on social media, the Read Aloud website and flyers in the BAM stores a week before the event. Please help Read Aloud share the news of this great event! It is extremely important to bring as many people into the participating BAM stores as possible.

“Read Aloud volunteers and board members are welcome to share information about the book fair on social media.” Reidy said. “The more customers coming to shop that day, the better it is for the organization.”

So, PLEASE, on September 30, go to your local Books-A-Million and make a purchase! You can pick up birthday or early Christmas gifts while there and help Read Aloud in the process. Read Aloud hopes that through the work of volunteers across the state and attendance by people like you, this year’s fair will be an even greater success!

 

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“A perfect fit” – Books-A-Million stores support Read Aloud statewide Oct. 8

by BooksChaptersEventsNewsPartners

By Melody Simpson

PLEASE! On Saturday, Oct. 8, go to your local Books-A-Million store in West Virginia and buy some books! (Or toys, tech, or more, to borrow from their logo, although we strongly lean toward books.) And when asked if you would like the store to donate a percentage of your purchase to Read Aloud, say “YES!”

Last year, Raleigh County Read Aloud connected with its local Books-A-Million store for a book fair in support of Read Aloud West Virginia. The event was the brainchild of Anne-Marie Johnson, the store’s general manager and a Raleigh County Read Aloud board member. Believing that BAM and Read Aloud were a “perfect fit,” Johnson hoped to expand her local effort into an ongoing, statewide partnership.

That partnership is blossoming. Ed Reidy, regional manager for Books-A-Million, agreed to have all BAM stores in his region host an event for Read Aloud (with participation from the Martinsburg store, thanks to manager Scott Brown). Between 10 and 20 percent of each designated purchase will be donated by BAM to Read Aloud West Virginia. Local Read Aloud chapters will have volunteers at store locations during the full-day event, with information about Read Aloud and its programs.

“An event like this is a complete win-win for Books-A-Million and Read Aloud,” Reidy noted. “Both of us want a literate, book-loving citizenry, and this is a great way for us to reach out to customers and a local philanthropic organization in our community.” Reidy hopes this is only the first in what becomes a regular statewide fundraising event for Read Aloud in BAM stores.

So bring your children, your grandchildren, your neighbor’s kids, the soccer team after the game—heck, bring your inner child!—and browse the shelves at your local Books-A-Million. You’ll be happy, your local Books-A-Million store will be happy, and Read Aloud West Virginia will be happy—and very grateful for your support.

Anne-Marie Johnson should be pretty happy, too….

Melody Simpson is an attorney at Bowles Rice LLP, a volunteer reader and member of the Read Aloud board and newsletter committee.

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Books-A-Million supports Read Aloud in Raleigh County

by ChaptersDonorsEventsNewsSupporters

On September 19, 2015, Books-A-Million in Beckley had a “book fair” to support Read Aloud West Virginia. This was the brainchild of Anne-Marie Johnson, the store’s General Manager and a Raleigh County Read Aloud board member. From noon to 4:00 p.m., customers were asked if they would like 10% of their purchase to be donated to Read Aloud, which resulted in a $167 donation.

“Books-A-Million is committed to becoming involved in the communities it serves, and recognizes the critical importance of literacy,” noted Johnson. This is just one of the types of local fundraising it supports. Johnson believes BAM and Read Aloud are a perfect fit of interests, and hopes that an ongoing, state-wide partnership between the two can be developed.