AMETEK Foundation and American Reading Company Team Up to Rebuild MacArthur Elementary School's 100 BOOK CHALLENGE Program Following Flood Devastation

BINGHAMTON, N.Y., Oct. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Binghamton City School District this week will receive a donation valued at $60,000 to provide more than 5,700 new books to rebuild the 100 BOOK CHALLENGE reading program, materials for which were recently lost in the flood devastation at MacArthur Elementary School.  The donation is from the AMETEK Foundation, the charitable arm of AMETEK, Inc., which operates an aerospace instruments plant on Airport Road in Binghamton, in conjunction with the American Reading Company, creator of the nationally recognized 100 BOOK CHALLENGE program. AMETEK, Inc., a global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices headquartered in Berwyn, PA, has sponsored 100 BOOK CHALLENGE in Binghamton Schools since 2000.

Volunteers will unpack the new books from 8–11 am on Thursday, October 20th, at St. Thomas Aquinas School (for displaced students of MacArthur Primary), located at 3 Aquinas Street, Binghamton, NY 13905, and then again on Friday, October 21st, at St. Francis (for displaced students of MacArthur Intermediate) located at 1051 Chenango Street, Binghamton, NY 13901.  The AMETEK volunteers, who also serve as "Reading Buddies" for some of the district's children, will be among those assisting with the work.

"Once again, the AMETEK Foundation and American Reading Company have poignantly illustrated their commitment to early literacy and to the long-term success of the children in our community," said Binghamton Superintendent Dr. Peggy Wozniak. "They have been our partners in education for quite some time, and it's truly heartening to see them step forward in these difficult times."

"We responded immediately upon hearing of the tragic devastation that occurred at the MacArthur School offering help to rebuild 100 BOOK CHALLENGE there as soon as possible," noted Frank S. Hermance, Chairman and CEO of AMETEK. "We hope that with the support of the AMETEK Foundation, the American Reading Company and the Binghamton City School, the program can once again resume the success it's had in introducing young people to the wonders of reading."

"We are committed to the ongoing role that private business must play in supporting reading achievement at schools," said Jane Hileman, Founder and CEO of American Reading Company.  "The flooding in the Binghamton area was catastrophic and we wanted to do our part to rebuild the school's reading materials to support the entire school community."

Working with the American Reading Company, the AMETEK Foundation started 100 BOOK CHALLENGE at Binghamton with a $130,000 grant in 2000. Last fall, the program celebrated its tenth anniversary. AMETEK has continued to support the program with annual donations.

About AMETEK

AMETEK is a leading global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices with annual sales of nearly $3.0 billion. Headquartered in Berwyn, PA, the company has more than 100 manufacturing facilities in the United States and around the world.  Its charitable arm, the AMETEK Foundation, has long supported efforts to improve early childhood literacy through its support of programs at schools and libraries near AMETEK plants and operations.

About American Reading Company

American Reading Company transforms school cultures to create sustainable reading achievement through training, management, and monitoring. The company was founded in 1998 and is based in King of Prussia, PA. Today, more than a million students in 2,100 schools across 420 districts in 41 states participate in the company's programs, which include ACTION 100, 100 BOOK CHALLENGE, and RESEARCH LABS.

CONTACT:
Jessica Lester
215-884-6499
[email protected]

SOURCE American Reading Company