Atlanta, GA (July 24, 2006) -- Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education, and media company, and Kids In Distressed Situations, Inc. (K.I.D.S.), a national charity that facilitates donations to needy children through a network of non-profit agencies, announced a book grant of 20,000 books to children, from pre-k through grade 12, in the metropolitan Atlanta area as part of a statewide literacy program spearheaded by Atlanta-based homelessness prevention organization, Caring For Others, Inc.
 
The book donation took place as part of a day-long celebration at the Caring For Others offices on Thursday, July 20, during which non-profit agencies from around Atlanta had an opportunity to visit Caring For Others and receive the books earmarked for their membership. The day kicked off with a formal announcement of the Scholastic/K.I.D.S. donation and was attended by Eslene Richmond-Shockley, President/CEO of Caring for Others; Janice Weinman, President of K.I.D.S.; and Pam Waller, Scholastic Regional Sales Director. Over 100 children from around the Atlanta area were at the event and took a pledge to continue reading and learning for life. To support this commitment to reading, Maggie Moo’s Ice Cream and Treatery was on hand to provide ice cream to the children in attendance.
 
“Our goal at Scholastic is to foster a love of learning and books in all children,” said Karen Proctor, Vice President of Community Affairs and Government Relations at Scholastic. “We are proud to make a donation to the children of Atlanta through Caring For Others, and to continue our work with K.I.D.S., an organization with a mission so closely aligned to our own.”
 
The donation to Caring for Others is part of a long-standing relationship between Scholastic and K.I.D.S. which is designed to encourage reading in children in communities around the nation. Over three years, Scholastic and K.I.D.S. have given over 600,000 books to children around the country.
 
“K.I.D.S. is once again thrilled to have such incredible support for our national literacy programs. Scholastic has enabled K.I.D.S. to make a world of difference to the countless numbers of children across the country who struggle with literacy problems,” said K.I.D.S. President Janice Weinman.

Books donated at the event will be distributed by Caring For Others to more than 20 Georgia-area non-profits and community based organizations as part of Caring for Others’ statewide literacy program.
 
“Education is so very important to me and with that in mind I am ever so grateful to Scholastic and K.I.D.S. for making this kind donation of books, which will help us to support over 40 literacy programs that will touch the lives of numbers of children throughout the state of Georgia,” said Eslene Richmond-Shockley.
About Caring For Others

Caring For Others, Inc. (CFO), is a homelessness prevention organization established in November 2001 to facilitate personal dignity and provide basic necessities to economically disadvantaged individuals, senior citizens, the disabled, the unemployed, and families with children. CFO collaborates with government agencies, social services organizations and churches to provide a continuum of services that empowers families with life skills, job training and career counseling.
 
About K.I.D.S.
K.I.D.S. is a global charity of leading retailers, manufacturers, and licensors of children’s and youth products, in partnership with major foundations, committed to helping improve the lives of children and their families who are ill, living in poverty, or are the victims of natural disasters. In 2005, K.I.D.S. distributed more than $41 million worth of new merchandise, including $9 million for victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Since 1985, K.I.D.S. has distributed more than $500 million to more than 60 million children in need. For more information, visit www.kidsdonations.org.
 
About Scholastic
Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books and a leader in educational technology. Scholastic creates quality educational and entertaining materials and products for use in school and at home, including children's books, magazines, technology-based products, teacher materials, television programming, film, videos and toys. The Company distributes its products and services through a variety of channels, including proprietary school-based book clubs, school-based book fairs, and school-based and direct-to-home continuity programs; retail stores, schools, libraries and television networks; and the Company's Internet site, www.scholastic.com.

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