Food chain turns over reading kits to DepEd

Educational kits were turned over yesterday to the Department of Education (DepEd) by a group of corporate foundations, led by the charity organization of the McDonald’s fastfood  chain.

During simple ceremonies held at the DepEd-National Capital Region (NCR) office in Bago Bantay, Quezon City, George Yang, chairman of Ronald McDonald’s House of Charities (RMHC), turned over 128 "Bright Minds Read" program kits to education officials.

The RMHC is a member organization of the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF), which donated the kits.

"More Filipino grade school students now have a fighting chance at better grades and a brighter future as more public schools benefit from new reading approaches with RMHC Bright Minds Read program," the charity organization said.

The DepEd will distribute the kits to assigned beneficiary public schools in the NCR and Region 4, which will adapt the Bright Minds Read program.

This is the first batch of kits that the LCF, in partnership with RMHC, has pledged to DepEd. Through the cooperation of its other members, LCF hopes to hit its target donation of 300 kits by the end of next year.

Joining Yang at the turnover of reading materials was LCF president Roberto Calingo and officials of LCF member-donors Petron Foundation and Mirant Philippines.

"McDonald’s, through its charity arm RMHC, firmly believes in education as a powerful means to shape a better future for our Filipino youth. That is why we put its full support on the Bright Minds Read program. By teaching kids how to read and understand their lessons better early on, they can make the most out of their education and hopefully, their lives," Yang said.

Mirant has sponsored 29 kits for schools in Real, Quezon Province;  Petron Foundation, 22 kits for schools in the NCR; and RMHC, 70 BMR kits for Manila and five in Balayan, Batangas.

Each kit contains English and Filipino reading materials, teachers manuals and worksheets. The kits, which cost P11,200 each, are specially  developed and produced to help improve reading and comprehension skills of grade school beneficiaries.