Over the last four years, HMH has donated 75,000 books to the Department of Children and Families. Twenty-nine regional DCF offices distribute the majority of the books to families throughout the holiday season as presents for Christmas morning. The remaining books, which include bestselling Curious George®, Gossie and Friends, and Martha Speaks titles, are placed in visiting rooms as a tool to help parents and children re-build rapport and a positive and supportive relationship.
The book donation was announced at a special festive celebration event in DCF’s Hyde Park office in Boston, attended by DCF Commissioner Angelo McClain and by Mary Cullinane, Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Social Responsibility at HMH.
“One of our goals as a learning company is to promote access to ideas and to help remove barriers to success. Our global book donation program allows us to share a love of reading and inspire curiosity and a passion for learning amongst children and adults who, for many reasons may not have access to books,” said Mary Cullinane. “We are thrilled to work with the Department of Children and Families to distribute these books throughout the state, and provide gifts for children to enjoy at Christmas.”
“The donations and generosity of organizations like Houghton Mifflin Harcourt ensure that each child in foster care has gifts to unwrap for the holidays,” said Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families, Angelo McClain. “Each one of us can recall a book that was special to us as a child. The donation of these books means that our children will also have those same memories. A book, although a simple gift, can have a profound and positive impact on a child’s life and we are very grateful for the gift Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has provided this holiday season.”
Through a partnership with First Book, HMH also recently donated more than $750,000 worth of books and educational materials to support the rebuilding of school libraries, afterschool programs, community centers and community libraries devastated by Hurricane Sandy.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt was recently named one of Boston’s Top Charitable Contributors by the Boston Business Journal at its annual Corporate Citizenship Summit.
About Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is a global learning company with the mission of changing lives by fostering passionate, curious learners. Among the world’s largest providers of pre-K–12 education solutions and one of its longest-established publishing houses, HMH combines cutting-edge research, editorial excellence and technological innovation to improve teaching and learning environments and solve complex literacy and education challenges. HMH’s interactive, results-driven education solutions are utilized by 60 million students in 120 countries, and its renowned and awarded novels, non-fiction, children's books and reference works are enjoyed by readers throughout the world. For more information, visit www.hmhco.com.