UPS Delivers Books to Boys and Girls Clubs

REDLANDS>> On Wednesday, April 12, the UPS Store locations in San Bernardino and Riverside counties donated $13,000 worth of books to Inland Empire and desert Boys & Girls Clubs. The 57 UPS stores raised the money through the Toys for Tots Literacy Program, a year-round initiative of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. The books benefited Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Redlands-Riverside, San Bernardino, Fontana, Barstow, Coachella Valley, Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Perris, Southwest County (Temecula), Hi-Desert (Yucca Valley), and San Gorgonio Pass (Beaumont/Banning). Together, the Clubs serve over 14,000 youth in inland Southern California. “The money is raised locally and stays here...and all money raised goes to buy books - there are no administrative costs for this program,” said Jacki Espino, UPS Store Operations Manager. “We’re pleased to be here.” The variety of fiction and nonfiction books covered students from Kindergarten through grade 12. “Because academic success and literacy are so important to our mission, we’re grateful to The UPS Store for providing so many quality books to kids, especially those who have limited access to them,” said Mark Davis, vice president of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Redlands-Riverside. The UPS Store network is the exclusive sponsor of the Toys for Tots Literacy Program. Since launching the program in 2008, it has raised more than $3.75 million to help deliver hundreds of thousands of books to children in need across the country.