Basketball fans donate over 500 books to SIU's
11/09/2006 | 12:00:00 | General
Nov. 9, 2006
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Saluki fans donated 527 books for the 12th annual "A Book in Every Home" campaign at the men's and women's exhibition games last Sunday.
The program, which is coordinated by the SIUC Head Start program, began on Oct. 25 and will continue until Dec. 8.
"What we are trying to do is to encourage kids to read more at home," second year campaign chairperson Erika Lowery said.
Lowery is the wife of men's basketball head coach Chris Lowery. The couple has four children, ages 12, 6, 5, and 2.
Over the past 11 years more than 27,000 books have been collected for children enrolled in the Head Start program. The goal this year is to collect at least 2,500 new books.
Books can be dropped off until Dec. 8. at the following campus locations:
• Chancellor's office, Anthony Hall.
• Law school library, Hiram H. Lesar Law Building.
• SIU President's Office, Stone Center.
• Student Center Information Station, first floor Student Center.
• Student Development Office, third floor, Student Center.
• Student Health Center, adjacent to the Student Recreation Center.
• Woody Hall, bursar's payment area.
• Colyer Hall.
• Coach Lowery's office, Lingle Hall, adjacent to the SIU Arena.
"Each year we get more and more books," Lowery said. "This year is a little bit different because we're trying to get people to donate money if they don't want to purchase books."
Tax-deductible monetary donations to buy new books can be sent to the SIU Foundation at 1235 Douglas Drive, Colyer Hall, Mail Code 6805, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, IL 62901. Checks should be made out to the SIU Foundation with "Books in Every Home" written in the memo area.
For more information on the "A Book in Every Home" campaign or SIU's Head Start program call (618) 453-6648.
