Newswise — PHILADELPHIA, PA, October 9, 2023 - The LaundryCares Foundation in partnership with Too Small to Fail, is excited to announce a collaborative initiative with local laundromats, Big G Laundry and The Laundry Café Parkwest, to benefit families in Philadelphia.
On Monday, October 9, 2023, the LaundryCares Foundation will invite the residents of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to join us at two locations for a Free Laundry and Literacy Day event. From 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., guests at both Big G Laundry, located at 162 W Chelton Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19144, and The Laundry Café Parkwest, located at 1575 N 52nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19131, will enjoy complimentary laundry services, refreshments, and engaging, literacy-rich activities for children and adults. There are no limitations on the amount of clothing and linens that can be brought in for free washing and drying.
This event is taking place as part of Philadelphia’s annual family literacy festival, Reading Promise Week. In honor of the work being done to support early literacy throughout Philadelphia, staff from the Free Library of Philadelphia will preside over a ribbon cutting ceremony at both locations at 2:00 p.m. These ceremonies will celebrate the local community and the early learning champions working to make a difference in the lives of Philadelphia’s young learners. The ceremonies will take place in each of the laundromats’ “Family Read, Play & Learn” space, which provide children with access to materials that support early learning. Following the ceremonies, Philadelphia Reading Captains will host story time sessions at both venues. Financial literacy resources will also be offered courtesy of Eastern Funding.
Throughout the afternoon, children will have the opportunity to participate in reading activities and receive free books from Scholastic and other early literacy resources including Reading Promise Week materials from Read by 4th. The LaundryCares Foundation will also provide attendees with access to a free digital library through World Reader, as part of a back-to-school literacy initiative that encourages children to read 20 minutes each day wherever they may be.
“Family Read, Play & Learn” spaces, established in select laundromats nationwide, provide child-friendly and comfortable learning environments that promote school readiness—an essential need often unmet in under-resourced communities. These impactful programs are made possible through the collaborative efforts of the LaundryCares Foundation and Too Small to Fail, who joined forces to create the Laundry Literacy Coalition, focused on supporting early language development in young children.
The LaundryCares Foundation works hand in hand with laundromat owners and community organizations throughout the United States to connect communities with literacy resources. Enrolling in the LaundryCares Network is free of charge and allows interested parties to actively contribute to the movement aimed at bridging the significant child literacy gap prevalent in historically excluded communities.
For more information about the LaundryCares Foundation and its initiatives, please visit laundrycares.org.
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About the LaundryCares Foundation
The LaundryCares Foundation is dedicated to enriching communities through the coordinated efforts of local businesses, community leaders and individuals to help better the lives of their neighbors. Since 2006, LaundryCares’ three pillars of philanthropy include offering free laundry services, support of key literacy skills in early childhood development, and disaster relief assistance.
The LaundryCares Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Coin Laundry Association (CLA) a national, nonprofit organization, with a membership of more than 300 manufacturers and distributors, and 1,500 owners in the self-service laundry industry. For more information about the LaundryCares Foundation, visit laundrycares.org.
About Too Small to Fail
Too Small to Fail, the early childhood initiative of the Clinton Foundation, promotes early brain and language development by supporting parents and caregivers with tools to talk, read, and sing with their young children from birth. Today, almost 60 percent of children in the United States start kindergarten unprepared, lagging behind their peers in critical language and reading skills. Through partnerships with pediatricians, hospitals, faith-based leaders, community-based organizations, businesses, entertainment industry leaders, and others, Too Small to Fail is meeting parents where they are to help them prepare their children for success in school and beyond. Whether at the pediatrician's office or the playground, Too Small to Fail aims to make small moments big by creating opportunities for meaningful interactions anytime, anywhere. Learn more at www.toosmall.org.
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