WHY ADVERTISE IN ARCADIA NEWS There is no better way to reach Arcadia and the surrounding area. For a detailed information kit about us and our market, go to arcadianews.com/advertise or send a request to roni@arcadianews.com. copies per month. 14,000 mailed; 5,000 in strategically-placed racks. 19,000 DIRECT MAIL We are the only publication that covers the highly-desired communities of Arcadia, Biltmore and Camelback Corridor. AFFLUENT READERSHIP regularly purchase products or services from ads seen in the Arcadia News .* 75% READERS READY TO BUY *Source: 2021-2023 CVC Publication Report Audit AWARD WINNING NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS SINCE 1993 3850 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix | 602.840.6379 | arcadianews.com The Circulation Verification Council (CVC) surveyed Arcadia News readers in the primary market areas indicated in the publication’s audit report. The CVC reviewed the printing, distribution, circulation, technology and general business records of this publication. Contact the Arcadia News for a copy of this report.
35 JANUARY 2024 ARCADIANEWSARCHIVES.COM By Mark Hays As a lead math instructor at Mathnasium – a global tutoring center – senior student Bryson Carlson saw firsthand how educational resources help build confidence and academic proficiency. When he learned that Arizona lacked educational resources, especially for low-income and underrepresented groups, he decided to do something about it. Carlson launched the Children’s Literacy Foundation, a nonprofit that distributes book-sharing boxes to local schools and foster care centers in low- income areas. “It started as just putting up a book-sharing box in our community, but eventually, it turned into a series of programs and drives as we continued to grow,” Carlson said. The group purchases bread boxes from Amazon, then designs and hand-paints them. “From there, we donate them to a learning center or foster care center we have already been in contact with,” Carlson explained. “The kids can pick any books they please and read them at their own pace. Additionally, if the kids have books they want to donate, they are welcome to add them to the boxes. It is an honor code system: you take what you want and give back when you can.” Children’s Literacy Foundation installed its first box at the Scottsdale Early Learning Center. Boxes at Explorers in Learning LLC, Aldea Montessori, and Arizonans for Children in Mesa soon followed. Next, the group began donating books and bookmarks to an existing box at Arizonans for Children in Phoenix. The sixth box was installed at Arcadia Montessori. “The Literacy Foundation has been so kind in providing us a library. Our students adore books and part of the highlight of their day comes when they can trade a book for another or take one for the road,” Montessori owner Ivan Pemberton said. “Our families donate loads of books their children are done looking through. Our school truly loves this library and the access to additional books.” Children’s Literacy Foundation has collected over 500 books through donation campaigns and recently ran a drive for Spanish-language materials. They also have a program called “Make Your Mark,” for volunteers to donate bookmarks. So far, they’ve collected more than 400. “We plan on continuing to put up boxes and expand into more locations, such as churches, in the future,” Carlson said. “We also want to get into fundraising soon.” Carlson will graduate high school next year, so he and his team plan to hold interviews for new members in the spring, allowing the effort to continue throughout the Valley. “I would like to expand the nonprofit to wherever I am located for college to continue advocating the impact of books for kids,” Carlson said. Learn more on Instagram @childrensliteracyfoundation Foundation encourages a love of reading