TD donates $100,000 to provide books to underserved areas across North America

TORONTO, Aug. 25, 2011 /CNW/ - TD Bank Group today announced a donation of $50,000 to First Book Canada, as well as an additional $50,000 donation to First Book in the United States from the TD Charitable Foundation, the charitable giving arm of TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank. The $100,000 gift from TD will provide books for children in underserved communities in Canada and the United States.

First Book Canada, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping increase access to books for children in underserved communities, provides eligible schools and community programs with new, high-quality children's books for free or at affordable prices. With help from TD Bank Group, First Book Canada will reach its goal to distribute over 100,000 new books to children across the country in 2011.

"We are thrilled that TD will help us to provide books for children across the US and Canada," said Tom Best, Executive Director, First Book Canada. "We recognize that price is the primary barrier to book ownership and we remove that barrier by providing 18,000 free and low-priced books every day across both countries."

More than 32 million children across Canada and the United States live in lower-income households. Most of these children do not have age-appropriate books at home and many schools and programs cannot afford books at retail prices. First Book and First Book Canada  help increase the accessibility of quality books and elevate educational opportunities in underserved communities.

"The ability to read is paramount to a child's education, and First Book is truly making an impact by providing books to children who otherwise would not have access to them," Frank McKenna, Deputy Chair, TD Bank Group. "TD is committed to making a difference in the communities we serve, and supporting First Book's initiatives provides us the opportunity to have a meaningful impact on young readers throughout our footprint."

About 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.

About First Book

First Book has distributed more than 85 million books and educational resources to programs and schools serving children from low-income families throughout the United States and Canada.  By making new, high-quality books available on an ongoing basis, First Book is transforming the lives of children in need and the elevating the quality of education. For more information, please visit us online or follow our latest news on Facebook and Twitter.