by Caroline Gabsewics
Staff Writer
Mission accomplished. The one-millionth book for the RALLY Book Drive! has been collected.
The RALLY Book Drive!, a major component of Mayor John Peyton’s early literacy initiative RALLY Jacksonville!, was designed to collect and distribute one million books by the end of this month to Jacksonville children, said Kristen Key, media relations officer for the mayor’s office.
The book drive began in June 2004.
“We’ve met that and exceeded it,” she said. “We really never had any doubts that we wouldn’t reach one million because the community really embraced the program.”
Peyton is hosting an event from 9-11 a.m. Saturday at the Main Library and Hemming Plaza for all Book Club members and RALLY Book Drive! donors to celebrate reaching his million book goal.
Key believes there are several reasons why the RALLY Book Drive! became so popular within the community.
“Having the mayor’s lead on this is very significant because it is not common for a mayor to embrace early literacy because education is a state function,” she said. “It is very unique and it is one of his passions.”
Literacy was a campaign issue for Peyton when he ran for mayor in 2003.
“Around that time, JCCI (Jacksonville Community Council Inc.) came out with a literacy study that showed there was a 46 percent functional illiteracy rate in Jacksonville, which means they have trouble reading things like menus and signs,” she said. “JCCI’s study showed that and it concerned him.
“As a leader, he knew he had to pull together the right group of people to help change that.”
It took about a year to put RALLY Jacksonville! together and now four years later, Peyton and the community reached their goal.
“So many children in the community don’t have books,” said Key. “And sometimes we are providing children with their first book. By having books in your home it teaches children the fundamental components of early literacy.”
Key said they will continue to accept books, but a decision has not been made yet on whether or not to pursue a second million.
“This initiative was easy for the community to be a part of because people truly cared about it,” she said.
A few of the top book donors over the years are:
• The Jaguars Foundation
• Mayor’s Book Club
• First Book
• Cheerios Spoonful of Stories Program
• RIF/Ready Child Coalition/Holland & Knight
• Dr. Robert Gibson & Gibson Chiropractic Clinic