1. In support of the School District of Lancaster's goal of having 9 out of 10 children reading at grade level by the third grade, we have placed over 20,000 new books in school libraries and raised over $400,000 for books and remedial reading programs. All funds raised are used 100% for books and programs.
2. In addition to these financial contributions, we have recruited over 200 volunteers to support literacy efforts in the elementary schools in the District.
3. Guest Reader Program
   • During the 2002-2003 school year the Book Challenge sponsored a program whereas volunteers from the community went to all 13 elementary schools in the School District of Lancaster once a week to read to a classroom of students. The purpose of this program was;
     • Put books into the libraries
     • Involve the community into the schools and discover all the positive that is happening in our schools.
     • Support teachers in encouraging the love of reading in their students.
     • Help students and staff to know that the community cares about the schools.
   • The pilot program ran September 2002 through May 2003. During this period 205 community volunteers read and gave 312 books to our school libraries. In addition to this there a second run during the 2003-2005 that continued with community volunteers reading during the school calendar year.
   • This program has had such tremendous success that The Book Challenge committee is currently revisiting this program and is currently working with a sub-committee to encourage orgainizations to adopt a school so the program can become active during the 2006-2007 school year.  For more information on this current initiative, contact Cherie Riggs at 391-9534, or email her at criggs@teamlanc.org..   
4. Updating Science & Technology collections.
   • Over half of the collections in the 13 elementary schools were over 40 years old! These books were written in the 1950's. 1960's and 1970's.
   • The James Hale Steinman Foundation and the John Frederick Steinman Foundation presented The Book Challenge with a $1.00 for $2.00 matching grant for $30,000.00 for this project.
   • $130,000 was raised for this project.  The Science & Technology collections in the elementary schools have each received $10,000 to update l/2 of their collections.  This highly successful campaign shows, again, that the Lancaster community cares for our youth.
   • Updating the Dr. Seuss collections in all 13 elementary schools in the School District of Lancaster.  The Book Challenge committee met with Dr. Rita Bishop and asked how we could help the district.  Dr. Bishop challenged the Book Challenge to raise enough funds to replace the Dr. Seuss Collections.  These collections are extremely popular with the students and the books had literaly been read to shreds.  A campaign was organized to honor the late Thomas H. Bamford, who suddenly passed away suddenly in Februry 2006.  Mr. Bamford was a champion for the children in the School District of Lancaster and had sat on the Book Challenge from the inception of the committee.  $7,631.00 was raised.
5. Gift Giving Idea
   • An alternative gift opportunity - Give a $20.00 donation to The Lancaster Book Challenge.
   • $33,974. 00 has been raised from this program which started during the 2003 holiday season and has successfully continued each year.  The campaign will kick off for the 2005 holiday season soon.  You can download a form by clicking on Gift Giving above.
6. Author in Residence Program.  4,600 students in the School District of Lancaster's thirteen elementary schools were treated to children's author, Steven Swinburne's presentation.  He spent two weeks meeting and talking to all the students.  A grant from Citizens Bank contributed to this program.

   
7. The Vicki Phillips Young Author's Luncheon:  In conjunction with the Author in Residence Program, a writing contest was held in each elementary school.  Four students were chosen from each school and The Lancaster Campaign provided a pizza party for forty-four students. The luncheon was held at The Press Room and UGI donated the funds to purchase Steve Swinburne's book, "Unbeatable Beaks".  Each student was presented a certificate and a signed copy of of this book.      
8. The Rotary Club of Lancaster has donated over 257 books to date for the elementary schools in the School District of Lancaster  through The Book Challenge's  Service Club Speaker's Program.  Instead of presenting the speaker with a gift, Rotary donates funds to The Book Challenge to purchase a book each week.  A special bookplate is placed in the book for the speaker to sign.  Librarians tell us the students like finding books with signed bookplates.  When the students find these books they know the community cares about them. This very successful partnership started in 2002 and has continued every year.

  During its first year, we have enlisted 636 people who have collected 2,218 pounds of trash, logged over 3,754 hours and collected 450 pounds of plastic and aluminum cans and 10 bags of newspapers to recycle. The work accomplished by the volunteers has a cost equivalent of $37,545.

Keep Lancaster Beautiful has enlisted 682 volunteers who have collected 4,480 pounds of trash, logged over 1,861 hours and collected 1,560 pounds of recyclable material, all of which was completed in less than 2 months! The work accomplished by the volunteers has a cost equivalent of $18,610.

Keep Lancaster Beautiful also conducted a food drive in the NW Neighborhood area in April 2004. Residents donated over 412 pounds of food to the Central PA Food Bank.