Fort Pierce Youngsters Invited To Join In
McDonald's Sixteenth Annual Reading Challenge

Reading is its own reward but during National Library Card Sign-Up Month in September, there's an extra incentive for young readers - the Sixteenth Annual McDonald's Reading Challenge.

With support from Treasure Coast County libraries, the Reading Challenge encourages children in grades K-5 to visit their libraries during the month of September. Children who sign up for a library card or show a valid library card receive a Reading Challenge Visit Card and coupons for free McDonald's food, while supplies last.

Ronald McDonald® will host a reading hour at Morningside Branch Library, Friday September 19 at 9:30 a.m.

Completed Reading Challenge cards also qualify children for a prize drawing, including WalMart gift certificates, a gift basket from Dairy Farmers, Inc., and books, among other prizes. Over 10,000 children throughout Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast participated in the McDonald's Reading Challenge program last year.

McDonald's launched the program as a way to encourage children to discover all their libraries have to offer. It's a natural extension of McDonald's continued commitment to education and family issues, supported in the St. Lucie County market by McDonald's owner/operators Akhtar Quraishi and Alan Osejo.

Library systems in Indian River, Okeechobee, and Palm Beach counties are also participating. Sponsors of the Reading Challenge include Dairy Farmers, Inc., Barnes & Noble, WIRK, The Palm Beach Post, LaPalma, Parenting Plus Magazine, WalMart Stores and Houghton Mifflin.

Complete rules for the McDonald's Reading Challenge are available at participating libraries or by calling 561-208-4178.