Local Eugene Student Named National Winner of Letters About Literature Contest Sponsored by Target and the Library of Congress

 

Minneapolis (June 5, 2008) – Reading can enrich a child’s life by freeing the imagination, sparking creativity and developing intellectual curiosity. Through reading, Hunter Hastings, a sixth grade student from Springfield, Ore., who attends Cal Young Middle School in Eugene, has been named one of six national winners in the annual Letters About Literature contest sponsored by Target and the Center for the Book in conjunction with the Library of Congress. In honor of Hunter, Target will donate a $10,000 library reading grant to Cal Young Middle School’s library. In addition, Hunter will receive a $500 Target GiftCard.

 

"Books and reading have a powerful impact on children, helping to expand their creativity and build a foundation for life-long learning and success," said Laysha Ward, vice president, community relations, Target. "As part of our commitment to support early childhood reading, Target is proud to sponsor the Letters About Literature program as a way to raise awareness of the importance of reading and the value that books bring to the lives of children everywhere."

 

The Letters About Literature program invites readers in grades 4-12 to write a letter to an author, past or present, who inspired them or altered their view of the world or of themselves. Hunter’s letter, written to Lawerence Taylor, Hall of Fame football player and author of "Taylor," was one of six winning letters chosen from nearly 60,000 entries. He was selected as the state’s first place winner by the Oregon Center for the Book, an affiliate of the national center in the Library of Congress.

 

Each state winner received a $50 Target GiftCard as an award for their appreciation of reading, in addition to a cash award provided by the affiliate state Center for the Book. The 12 national runners-up were awarded a $100 Target GiftCard and, in addition, Target awarded a reading promotion grant of $1,000 to their school or community library.

 

Hunter’s letter to Taylor was about his personal connection with the book, which his father had recommended he read, and how it gave him the confidence and motivation to work hard and ultimately change his life.

 

"Your father, like mine, played with you, encouraged you and was your biggest fan. I decided to read your book because my father believed I would understand how dedication, confidence and hard work could change my life. When I read your book, I saw that you struggled with many of the same problems I had. You wrote that you resisted instruction and always felt angry. In time you learned to ignore criticism and rely on yourself with a, ‘Win at all cost attitude!’ I decided that I could be a winner too."

 

Cal Young Middle School in Eugene will host a special award ceremony on Monday, June 9 to acknowledge Hunter as a national Letters about Literature contest winner. The event will take place at Cal Young Middle School at 9:15 a.m.

 

"Research shows that children gain a greater understanding of what they have read when they are encouraged to reflect and respond through writing," said John Y. Cole, director of the Center for the Book. "With Target’s continued support of programs like ours that encourage a lifelong love of reading, we are confident that more American children will be avid young readers for years to come."

 

The Letters About Literature program has three competition levels: upper elementary, middle school and secondary, with state and national winners at each level. The program aims to encourage young readers to explore their thoughts and feelings about a book and then express that response in a creative and unique way. As a sponsor of the program, Target recognizes the integral role reading plays in shaping a child’s future and is proud to support programs that aim to foster a life-long love of reading among children at an early age.

 

 

Letters About Literature is an annual program of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, which was established in 1977 to stimulate public interest in books and reading.

 

The Library of Congress is the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution, with more than 130 million items in most languages and formats. The Library of Congress serves the U.S. Congress and the nation both onsite in its 21 reading rooms on Capitol Hill and through its award-winning Web site at http://www.loc.gov.

 

Target is the primary partner of Letters About Literature. For more information about the 2007-2008 contest's national and state winners and to learn more about next year's Letters About Literature program--beginning in early fall 2008--log onto http://www.loc.gov/letters. Interested children and teachers can also contact the Oregon Center for the Book for more information on the state’s Letters About Literature program.

 

Minneapolis-based Target serves guests at 1,613 stores in 47 states nationwide by delivering today’s best retail trends at affordable prices. Target is committed to providing guests with great design through innovative products,in-store experiences and community partnerships. Whether visiting a Target store or shopping online at Target.com, guests enjoy a fun and convenient shopping experience with access to thousands of unique and highly differentiated items. Since 1946, the corporation has invested five percent of itsincomein the communities it serves. Target (NYSE:TGT) gives more than $3 million a week to its local communities through grants and special programs. Target partners with nonprofit organizations, guests and team members to help meet community needs.