Conn's extends and expands literacy program

Furniture and specialty home goods retailer Conn’s is extending its Conn’s Cares philanthropic program for a second year.



The company is partnering with First Book and Little Free Library — organizations that have been recognized by the Library of Congress for their excellence in the advancement of literacy — to expand the literacy focus of Conn’s Cares.



“Conn’s has a tradition of giving back, and the Conn’s Cares program provides us with a great opportunity to further connect with the communities we serve and promote the importance of reading to children,” said Norm Miller, president and CEO, Conn’s. “We are proud to partner with First Book and Little Free Library to continue and build upon this great program.”



As part of the 2016 Conn’s Cares program, the company says it will donate more than $100,000 worth of new books to children living in low-income communities through First Book and distribute more than 50 Little Free Libraries to select communities it serves across Conn’s 12-state footprint.



This will be the second year of Conn’s partnership with First Book, a nonprofit social enterprise that provides books, school supplies and other resources to help children in need learn. Conn’s will work with First Book to facilitate reading parties at schools and orchestrate an in-store program that distributes books to local children in every market the company serves. Conn’s will also donate furniture to create reading nooks in select schools.



This is the first year of Conn’s partnership with Little Free Library, an organization that works to connect communities through reading. Conn’s is purchasing and distributing the libraries — small, handcrafted houses that are posted in communities to encourage the exchanging of books.