November 25th, 2016 - January 5th, 2017

The WXEL Holiday Book Drive benefits the WXEL early childhood educational services which are public television's contribution toward our nation's most urgent educational goal: preparing children for success in school, partcularly in reading skills, through the reach of public broadcasting.

In the traditional spirit of giving, the WXEL Holiday Book Drive (16th Annual) launches following the Thanksgiving holiday on Monday, November 25th and it will continue through Wednesday, January 5th. The WXEL Holiday Book Drive benefits the WXEL Ready To Learn service (RTL), the early childhood educational service which is public television's contribution toward our nation's most urgent educational goal: preparing children for success in school, particularly in reading skills, through the reach of public broadcasting.

WXEL's Director of Education trains parents and educators to prepare at-risk children for literacy skills development during workshops and by emphasizing the importance of co-viewing and of the RTL Learning Triangle to these caregivers. The workshops are based on the award-winning educational and violence-free PBS KIDS/Ready To Learn television programming. The director regularly distributes new children's books on a complimentary basis to designated sites. WXEL's Ready To Lead In Literacy service is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).

This annual holiday book drive allows WXEL to distribute hundreds more NEW children's books to parents and educators of at-risk children ages 2 to 8. The books collected during this holiday drive will be distributed by the WXEL Director of Education at sites throughout the community during the year 2017. Thanks to the generosity of many individuals, including WXEL's volunteer Roman Bucher, and groups WXEL expects to celebrate another successful book drive. One sponsor in particular continues to show its generous support: The Gold Coast, the Treasure Coast chapters of the Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP). Plastridge Insurance Agency in Delray Beach and Boca Raton are also generous sponsors of the book drive.

Exclusive collection site will be located in the WXEL lobby, weekdays. WXEL studios are located at 3401 S. Congress Avenue, Boynton Beach (Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 5:00pm); 561-737-8000. Please remember that the drive collects NEW children's books, preferably Scholastic and Random House publications, for children ages 2 through 8. Additional drop off locations: Plastridge Insurance Agency - Delray Beach at 820 N. Federal Hwy., 2100 N Dixie Hwy., Boca Raton and 10337 North Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens FL, 33430 www.plastridge.com