Now more than ever, educators take on the huge task, not only of meeting
challenging curriculum goals but preparing our children for an ever-changing
future.  As a business leader in your
community, it is important to consider that these students are our next
generation of workers, consumers and leaders. 
In becoming a Business Partner in Education, you can improve the reading
and decision-making skills of an entire classroom for less than the cost of a
cup of coffee a day.

Newspapers in Education (NIE), a classroom outreach program of the Bangor
Daily News, partners with local businesses to provide newspaper subscriptions,
standards-based educational programs and training to enrich the curriculum and
improving reading, writing and critical thinking skills free of charge to area
schools.  Due to auditing regulations, the Bangor Daily News
is only able to fund 75% of the cover price of the NIE newspapers circulated,
and must obtain sponsorship for the remaining 25% as well as delivery costs,
specials sections and stories.  By the
end of the 2006-2007 school year, NIE will have provided over 350,000
newspapers to Maine schools.   That is an
average of over 9,600 papers delivered to Maine classrooms each week!  Your sponsorship ensures that all classrooms
requesting papers are able to receive them.

The number of Maine public and private schools
requesting NIE programs and newspapers continues to grow, and for good
reason.  Teachers know using newspapers
in the classroom increases student performance on standardized tests up to 29%
and develops a lifelong reading habit among young adults. 

Please download the pledge form below to support this
life-changing literacy program. 
Businesses sponsoring our NIE classrooms will receive a certificate of
appreciation, special mention in our in-paper NIE Thank You Ad, recognition on
our NIE website and a “special thanks” from the classrooms that your
sponsorship helped touch. 

Please sponsor a classroom or special program in
your area and help raise tomorrow’s leaders.