DALLAS, Dec. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- With millions of books read since its inception, the BOOK IT!® program, a reading incentive program developed by Pizza Hut®, is kicking off a year-long celebration of its 25th birthday. As part of the celebration, the BOOK IT! Program is collecting birthday wishes on an oversized book that will make its rounds across the country.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091208/CG23146)
"For 25 years, the BOOK IT! program has been one of the strongest reading incentive programs available," said Leslie Brunt, BOOK IT! program director. "We are so honored by the outpouring of support we've received through the years and for all the birthday wishes that are coming our way. There are few things more gratifying than knowing you played a part in encouraging children to read. On behalf of the millions of books read since the program began, we thank everyone who has participated and showed their support."
The birthday celebration officially kicked-off on December 5 at Variety Magazine's Power of Youth Event in Los Angeles. Pizza Hut pizza was provided to the crowd of more than 700 guests, which included celebrity ambassadors Corbin Bleu, Miranda Cosgrove and AnnaLynne McCord. Ultimately, the huge BOOK IT! birthday book was signed nearly 300 times. For each signature on the card, the BOOK IT! Program will donate a book in honor of the signee to LA's BEST, an after school program that aims to provide a safe and supervised environment for elementary school students.
Signed comments ranged from "I was a BOOK IT! kid," to "I love reading!" After a brief stop at the BOOK IT! headquarters in Dallas, the huge birthday book will begin makings its rounds across the country, gathering as many signatures and birthday wishes as possible in a year. Additionally, starting today BOOK IT! fans can sign their birthday wishes on a virtual card at http://www.bookitprogram.com/.
About The Power of Youth Event
The Variety Power of Youth Event encourages young talent to become involved in philanthropic and humanitarian causes and motivate others to do the same. This year's event benefited LA's BEST and the Starlight Children's Foundation. The five young celebrities being honored in 2009 for their work with their chosen charities are: Corbin Bleu, Miranda Cosgrove, Jesse McCartney, Keke Palmer and AnnaLynne McCord.
About BOOK IT!®
In 1985, Pizza Hut established the BOOK IT! National Reading Incentive Program to motivate children to read more and help them develop a lifelong love of reading. BOOK IT! is a six-month program for students in kindergarten through sixth grade. Teachers set monthly reading goals for their classrooms, and when students achieve their monthly goal they receive a Pizza Award Certificate to redeem at their local Pizza Hut restaurant. For more information, visit http://www.bookitprogram.com/.
About Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut, America's Favorite Pizza, delivers more pizza, pasta and wings than any other restaurant. The only pizza company to be named a top ten franchise in 2009 by Entrepreneur Magazine, Pizza Hut began 50 years ago in Wichita, Kansas and today operates more than 10,000 restaurants in more than 90 countries. Pizza Hut, Inc. is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. . To check out what's new at Pizza Hut visit http://www.pizzahut.com/.
Media Contact Sarah Rosanova Zeno for Pizza Hut Sarah.Rosanova@zenogroup.com Phone: 312-396-9711
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Pizza Hut
CONTACT: Sarah Rosanova of Zeno, +1-312-396-9711,
Sarah.Rosanova@zenogroup.com, for Pizza Hut
Web Site: http://www.pizzahut.com/
http://www.bookitprogram.com/
