WASHINGTON, D.C., October 16, 2003 — Young people in Kids Care Clubs across the country and around the world will foster literacy by participating in the Kids Care BookShare project support childhood literacy during Kids Care Week 2003, October 19 through 25. The week is dedicated to recognizing the power of kids to reach out and help others in their community and the world.

Kids Care Week culminates on Make A Difference Day, Saturday, October 25th, a national day of doing good sponsored by the Points of Light Foundation and USA Weekend.

During Kids Care Week 2003, young volunteers will foster literacy by participating in the Kids Care BookShare project. The Kids Care BookShare project will enable young volunteers to share the gift of reading by collecting new and used books, assembling BookShare Library Boxes and Bags, and holding read-a-thons to encourage reading and raise funds to buy new books. Kids Care BookShare will put books in the hands of children and families who do not own books or have access to books.

"Deficiency in reading skills is a national problem and children who fall behind in reading skills rarely catch up with their peers," said Cynthia Scherer, Vice President, Youth and Family Outreach at the Points of Light Foundation. "Kids Care BookShare will put books in the hands of children and families who do not own books or have access to them."

In addition, many other locations which provide services to families and children, including homeless shelters, prison visiting rooms, social welfare offices or pediatric clinics could benefit from having books for children to read when there with their parents.

Research shows that a literacy rich environment in school and at home nurtures and reinforces children's literacy skills.

By putting books in the hands of children and families who do not own books or have access to books, Kids Care BookShare will encourage reading and foster literacy.

Kids Care Clubs has awarded twenty-five mini-grants to support local literacy-based service projects, which will be carried out during Kids Care Week. Clubs receiving the $200 mini-grants include:

* Holmes Elementary KCC - North Highland, CA;
* Kids Care Club of Aliso Creek - Aliso Viejo, CA;
* Holly Hills Elementary School KCC - Denver, CO;
* Royle Elementary School KCC - Darien, CT;
* Roosevelt School KCC - Bridgeport, CT;
* Princeton Elementary KCC - Orlando, FL;
* Lake Silver Elementary KCC - Orlando, FL;
* Volunteer Macon - Macon, GA;
* 21 st Century Learning Center - Cordele, GA;
* Rockville Christian Church KCC - Rockville, IN;
* Cardinals Care KCC - Shawnee, KS;
* Hockomock YMCA - North Attleboro, MA;
* Cutler School KCC - Cutler, MA;
* Winchell Elementary School KCC - Kalamazoo, MI;
* Sathi Nepal KCC - Pokhara, Nepal;
* Fountain Woods School KCC - Burlington, NJ;
* St. Hilary's Kids Care Club - Akron, OH;
* Helping Hands KCC - Warren, OH;
* Fort Washington Elementary KCC - Fort Washington, PA;
* Pathfinders KCC - Everett, PA;
* Girl Scouts of North Star - Missouri City, TX;
* Loudon County PRCS-CASA - Leesburg, VA;
* Red Hill Elementary School - North Garden, VA;
* Stratford Landing KCC - Alexandria, VA;
* KCC of the Praire School - Racine, WI.

Kids Care Week provides an opportunity to celebrate and recognize the impact young people can have on issues facing their community through hands-on service projects . Kids Care Week culminates on Make A Difference Day, Saturday, October 25th,
a national day of doing good sponsored by the Points of Light Foundation and USA Weekend.

To arrange interviews with local or national Kids Care Club spokespersons contact Kathy Saulitis at 203-656-8052. To learn more about Kids Care Week and Kids Care BookShare, visit www.kidscare.org, call (203) 656-8052 or email kidscare@pointsoflight.org.

Kids Care Clubs is a program of the Points of Light Foundation. Since 1991, Kids Care Clubs has been providing meaningful hands-on service opportunities for children to develop compassion and the spirit of service and philanthropy by helping others in their local, national and global communities.

The Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network supports the vital work of millions of volunteers, who are helping to solve serious social problems in thousands of communities nationwide. For more information about local volunteer activities, call 1-800-VOLUNTEER, or visit www.1800volunteer.org.