- TD Bank Group renews investment to keep kids reading in the summer months -

TORONTO, June 20, 2011 /CNW/ - TD Bank Group today announced a multi-year, $3.7-million renewed investment to the program to help Library and Archives Canada, Toronto Public Library and CNIB run the TD Summer Reading Club through to 2014.  As Canada's largest reading club, more than half a million children are expected to participate and will read more than two million books in both English and French each year.

"The TD Summer Reading Club is a great way to keep young minds stimulated over the summer months," said Frank McKenna, TD Bank Group deputy chair and literacy champion. "We are proud to help kids discover the joy of reading this summer and make a splash using their imaginations."

From scuba diving for treasure to studying mythical water creatures, the award-winning TD Summer Reading Club's theme, Splash! Celebrate Summer will inspire children to use their imaginations to explore lakes, rivers and oceans through reading.  Children in participating provinces will make a splash at their local libraries by registering for a free TD Summer Reading Club kit. Each child is encouraged to set a reading goal for the summer and at the end of the summer, the local librarian will present each child with a reading certificate.

"Children and their families are encouraged to dive into a good book at their local library," said Jane Pyper, Toronto Public Library's City Librarian. "Thousands of children participate in the program every year, building confidence in their reading abilities and providing a safe place to have fun during the summer."

Summer reading clubs have a positive impact on children's reading, but family really plays an important role by encouraging children to read for pleasure at home. Studies show that reading as little as six books over the summer will help young children maintain their reading levels.

"Nothing stimulates a child's imagination like reading," said Dr. Daniel Caron, Deputy Head and Librarian and Archivist of Canada. "It brings them to a world where magic can happen, the kind of world we once all believed in and a sense of wonder that we yearn for as we get older."

In 2009, CNIB joined the program in an effort to increase accessibility for children with print disabilities. "We are thrilled to make the TD Summer Reading Club available to children with vision loss, by bringing stories to life with French and English audio recordings and Braille," said Al Jameson, Chair, National Board of Directors, CNIB.

For more information about the 2011 TD Summer Reading Club and how to participate visit www.tdreadingclub.com.

TD Community Giving
TD invests in communities to make a positive impact where it does business and where our customers, clients and employees live and work. In 2010, TD donated over $50 million to support community organizations in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. In Canada, we focus on Education and Financial Literacy, Creating Opportunities for Young People, and the Environment. For more information, visit www.td.com/corporateresponsibility.