Supporting Literacy Coast-to-Coast and Country-to-Country

Hillsboro, OR, August 23, 2007 --(PR.com)-- Book fairs are the bread and butter of many schools in the United States, providing much needed funds and supplementary learning materials for libraries and classrooms.

Not so in Sierra Leone, a nation of approximately 5 million people on the West Coast of Africa. That’s why LaRonda Famodu, an independent educational consultant with Usborne Books at Home, has teamed up with the Maryland-based Sierra Leone Fund.

“When my college friend Jeneba started her foundation, I was wracking my brain for ways to help besides sending a $20 check,” says Famodu of Hillsboro, Oregon. “And then while sitting at my company’s convention in July, listening to how other consultants have made such a huge difference in their communities and beyond through this business, I had a brain wave. Why couldn’t I do a book fair to support The Sierra Leone Fund?”

The Fund, founded in 2005, provides educational materials to some of the poorest schools in the war-torn country. During its inaugural trip in December 2006, it distributed pencils, notebooks, and the like to six schools and one amputee camp, helping more than 500 students. And while it has accepted donations of books in the past, this is its first dedicated book fair.

“Our main challenge will be conducting the fair long distance, since I’m in Oregon, the foundation is in Maryland, and the books have to make it to Sierra Leone,” says Famodu. “So we are holding an e-fair where folks can go online to http://www.ubah.com/BF21842 and order books for the children in their lives; and then based on the total sales, The Sierra Leone Fund will earn free books to send to Africa—up to 50% of total sales.” Those without children can still participate by purchasing a book or two from The Fund’s wish list, which can also be found at http://www.ubah.com/BF21842.

To learn more about Usborne Books and fundraising or book-raising opportunities, visit http://www.enjoygoodbooks.com. For more information on The Sierra Leone Fund, visit http://www.sierraleonefund.org.

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