Book Drive Exceeds Goal

Thanks to an outpouring of generosity from Bank Rhode Island (BankRI) customers and staff, the bank’s book drive in partnership with Books Are Wings was an overwhelming success.

Throughout the entire month of March, members of the community were asked to visit any of BankRI’s 18 branches across the state to donate new and gently used children’s books. The results: 2,372 books for local children.

The collection marked the third consecutive year BankRI has partnered with Books Are Wings to support their efforts to promote the importance of literacy by putting free books in the hands of children. After collecting 1,400 books last year, this year’s drive set a goal of 2,000 books; which was easily surpassed. In total, the collaboration has collected more than 5,000 books since inception.

All of the books collected will be distributed to students in Central Falls during a special 3-day book fair being coordinated by BankRI and Books Are Wings for June. The effort will allow children to start building their own personal libraries at home to remain engaged in reading during the summer months.

“As a bank that takes pride in a long history of giving back to the community, our customers and staff are instrumental in everything we do – they’re extremely generous,” said Mark J. Meiklejohn, President and CEO of BankRI. “Making sure every child in our state has books at home helps to foster a love of reading that leads to success in school; a goal we should all embrace.”