Beacon Bank collects 8,200 children’s books - partners with Books Are Wings for 16th year

Providence, RI Beacon Bank, formerly Bank Rhode Island, collected more than 8,200 new and gently used children’s books to support childhood literacy in its 16^th year partnering with Books Are Wings in one of the nonprofit’s largest annual book drives.

“This book drive is something our employees look forward to supporting every year and is a powerful example of what can happen when a community comes together to truly make a difference,” said Will Tsonos, president of the bank’s Rhode Island region. “By increasing access to books, we’re helping children build skills that will support them far beyond the classroom.”

Jennifer Smith, executive director of Books Are Wings, said: “Books Are Wings is incredibly grateful to Beacon Bank for this amazing book drive, one of our most significant of the year. These books come just in time to distribute them at our Books at Recess school events where we fill students’ backpacks with books before summer break when many students lose access to books. Beacon Bank’s continued commitment is crucial support to our mission of getting free books into the hands of children that need them the most in Rhode Island.”

This year’s drive took place from March 9 to April 3 and included collection sites at 23 Beacon Bank locations in Rhode Island. The bank is especially pleased to recognize participation at its three locations that collected the most donations, branches in Woonsocket, on Park Ave. in Cranston and Wakefield, respectively.

All donated books will support Books Are Wings’ Rhode Island literacy programs, including Books All Year, Read to 100 Challenge, and Tale Mail Family Literacy programs, focusing on the communities of Central Falls, Pawtucket, Providence, and Woonsocket where the need is greatest.