For the second year in a row, Literacy Inc. (LINC) has been awarded a James Patterson PageTurner Award, recognizing innovative individuals and organizations that “go to extraordinary lengths to spread the joy of books and reading across the country.” Ten individual winners and 26 organizations in the U.S. and Canada shared cash prizes totaling $250,000 for the 2007 Awards.

LINC received $2,500 for its work to energize entire low-income communities to increase the amount of time children spend reading with others for pleasure. Founded in 1996, LINC makes it possible for any community to bring together its resources to promote excitement around reading.

Last year, LINC staff activated 21 Community Literacy Networks in New York City and Hudson, NY, fostering 178 ongoing reading programs and 118 literacy celebrations, reaching thousands of children and families, and providing 70,000 hours of additional reading time. LINC works with partners from every sector of the community, including more than 100 schools as well as libraries, afterschool programs, faith-based institutions, homeless shelters, apartment building lobbies, colleges, health care centers, tenants’ associations, senior centers, restaurants, bookstores, and laundromats.

Mega-best-selling author James Patterson created the PageTurner Awards in 2005 to “bring more awareness to how much fun it is to read.” Winners have included libraries, schools, bookstores, publishers, nonprofit organizations, and individuals who were selected by Mr. Patterson and executives of the Hachette Book Group USA.

In addition to the PageTurner Awards, LINC’s work is widely recognized for excellence and impact. In March 2008, LINC was named one of ten semifinalists in the New York Times Nonprofit Excellence Awards competition. In 2006, LINC received its second Partnership Organization Award from the National Network of Partnership Schools from Johns Hopkins University, and was recognized with a Dr. King Community Service Organization Award for Literacy Initiatives in Albany, New York. LINC was also selected by Time Inc. as one of five featured organizations for their Time to Give Back campaign.

For more information, please call Isabelle Leighton at 212-620-5462, ext. 224.