August 26th is Youth Literacy Day

Online, August 21, 2010 (Newswire.com) - San Francisco, CA- Youth Literacy Day, on August 26, 2010, celebrates the power of reading, writing, and self-expression. 826 National, a network of eight nonprofit writing and tutoring centers that honor student literacy and creativity, will be leading the charge behind Youth Literacy Day. The celebration will spread from coast to coast, at each 826 writing center, including 826 Valencia, right here in San Francisco.

In reference to the festivities, 826 National co-founder Dave Eggers said, "More than ever before, a young person's success is inextricably tied to their ability to express their ideas clearly and powerfully. We're happy to celebrate Youth Literacy Day and to highlight all that needs to be done to make sure students have the resources they need."

With mounting pressure on school systems and parents, 826 writing centers help bridge the gap for students and families by providing free, one-on-one attention and writing help, from volunteer tutors, to young people ages 6 through 18.

At 826 Valencia, the San Francisco-based chapter, we are celebrating Youth Literacy day in two ways. First, along with the other 826 chapters, we are asking supporters to donate $8.26 on 8/26 to support youth literacy by visiting www.826on826.org or texting "WRITE" to 20222 to make a one-time donation of $10 (an $8.26 donation plus a $1.74 service fee) on August 26th. This campaign is powered by Give by Cell and certified by the Mobile Giving Foundation. This $10 donation will be added to your mobile bill. Messaging and data rates may apply. Please visit hMGF.org/t for terms and help.

In addition, at 826 Valencia, we are hosting the first-ever 8/26 Day Write-a-thon on Youth Literacy Day. Students, 826 Valencia volunteers, and the general public are encouraged to recruit friends and family members to pledge to support them in their writing goal, be it two poems or 200 pages, at a suggested donation rate of $10 per page. On August 26, writers and their supporters, and anyone else who wants to join in the fun, will gather at 826 Valencia from 12 noon to 8:26 PM, for eight hours and twenty-six minutes of writing frenzy. Participants can come and write for fifteen minutes, two hours or the whole day. For more information, go to www.826valencia.org, and to sign up, please email [email protected]
For more information on 826 writing centers visit www.826national.org.

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About 826 Valencia
826 Valencia, named for its street address in San Francisco, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their writing skills, and to helping teachers get their students excited about writing. Our work is based on the understanding that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success, and that great leaps in learning can be made when skilled tutors work one-on-one with students.

About 826 National
826 National is a network of nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping students, ages 6-18, with their literacy and writing skills. Our work is based on the understanding that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention, and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success.