This summer, the Lerner Publishing Group is collaborating with regional sports teams to promote literacy.
Since 1996, Lerner Publishing has produced and distributed posters featuring Minnesota Twins players reading books. Each year, these posters are sent to Minnesota schools and libraries, in addition to being given away at Twins games.
Last year, Lerner expanded the program to include books. A mix of picture books, biographies and sports books for readers K—12 were handed out to fans at every Sunday Twins home game held at the Minneapolis Metrodome in 2003. Approximately 32,500 books were handed out last season, and the publishing company hopes to hand out a similar number to baseball fans this season.
This past winter, Lerner began a partnership with the University of Minnesota Gophers sports teams. The company is co-sponsoring the production of a "Reading Is Magical" Poster, featuring various Gopher athletes. The University of Minnesota is distributing 30,000 of these posters at various athletic events, and Goldy's Gang Kids Club gave away 500 Lerner titles to children attending Gophers games.
