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.