FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Division of University of Advancement at the U of A has collected 736 children’s books to donate to Arkansas Reads, a program that collects books to give to students in grades K-4 across the state. The books were collected as part of a division-wide team challenge. 

“The idea behind the challenge was to promote team building among the advancement staff, through friendly and spirited competition that would also help others,” said Vice Chancellor Chris Wyrick. “To provide so many books to children who may not have had access to these books otherwise, helped raise the spirits throughout the division and is what really helped us raise the 736 books.” 

The donation is the largest this year and the second largest ever for Arkansas Reads, which has been collecting books for schools around the state since 2010. The books have been donated to the Brinkley School District in the Arkansas Delta.

Book collection continues on the University of Arkansas or Fayetteville High School campuses through April. For drop off locations visit read.uark.edu.

“We challenge the U of A to match or exceed our donation,” said Wyrick, “I think as a university it is important that we support our communities and young students, and help provide them with the means to succeed.”