Knoxville, Tennessee (November 1, 2007):  Some parents have to choose between a buying gallon of milk and a child’s paperback book.  Girl Scouts are changing that. 

Join Girl Scouts in “Reading Rocks! 2007”

U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander supports Reading Rocks!

Tanasi Council Girl Scouts invite the public to give new books to children who can’t afford their own through their public book campaign, “Reading Rocks! 2007.” 

U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander calls Reading Rocks a gift to East Tennessee. 

“My wife Honey and I are big believers in the Girl Scout mission to help girls grow strong and become active members in their communities,” said Alexander, who is the Girl Scouts’ spokesperson for Reading Rocks.

 “I commend the Girl Scouts of Tanasi Council for continued success of this book drive.”

In its fifth year the campaign raised a record 6,000 books.  Girl Scouts set a 7,000-book goal for 2007. Tanasi Council is partnering with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots, WBIR-TV, Love89 Radio, AC Entertainment, Carpe Librum Booksellers and area churches to reach this ambitious goal.

“Books feed minds,” says Lise Bender, program director for Tanasi Council. 

“Books open the door to new worlds that may be safer or more interesting than what children face in the real world.”

Girl Scouts invite the public to drop off new children’s books now through December 1 at Carpe Librum Booksellers, 5113 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, Love 89 radio, 1621 Magnolia Avenue, Knoxville, and AC Entertainment’s productions of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe beginning November 27 at the Bijou Theatre in downtown Knoxville.

“Reading Rocks! 2007” culminates with a celebration Saturday, December 1 at Carpe Librum Booksellers.  Girl Scouts will fill a Marine Humvee with book donations from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. The public will enjoy free children’s entertainment, crafts and refreshments.  Carpe Librum (owned by four former Girl Scouts) is offering a 20 percent discount to all current and former Girl Scouts making purchases December 1.

Through “Reading Rocks! 2007,” Girl Scouts earn a special patch and the lasting satisfaction of helping others.  Some troops in Tanasi Council’s 16-county region are making book donations to organizations within their own communities.

Call Tanasi Council at 1-800-474-1912 for more information.

Media contact: Sarah Callahan, director of communications, (865) 688-9440.

About Girl Scouts of Tanasi Council - Serving East Tennessee
Girls Scouts of Tanasi Council, Inc., is based in Knoxville, Tennessee, and serves 10,000 girls in 16 East Tennessee counties. More than 3,000 volunteers work with Tanasi. Additionally, hundreds of girls enjoy summer outdoor living every year at Camp Tanasi on 500 acres on Norris Lake in Anderson County.

Girl Scouts of the USA is the world's largest organization dedicated to helping all girls everywhere build high moral values, character and gain skills for success in the real world. Founded in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low, Girl Scouts membership has grown from 18 members in Savannah, Ga., to nearly four million members throughout the United States, including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and in more than 80 countries through USA Girl Scouts Overseas.  ###