Little Free Library and Foresters Financial Hosted Build Weekend in Atlanta to Benefit 14 “Real Dads Read” Schools.

This Effort Will Benefit School Districts in Clayton and Fulton Counties and Will Complete Fathers Incorporated’s Goal of Installing 100 Libraries this year in Metro-Atlanta and Columbus, GA.

ATLANTA (November 13, 2019)

Foresters Financial (“Foresters”), a purpose-driven life insurer committed to doing more for families and communities, in partnership with Little Free Library, a literacy-focused nonprofit organization, has elected to work with Atlanta-based Fathers Incorporated (“FI”) through its “Real Dads Read” (“RDR”) program to provide 14 Little Free Library book-sharing boxes to local schools in the metro-Atlanta area and Columbus, GA.

As part of a corporate giving initiative, the organizations hosted a “build day” on November 2nd at Hilton Atlanta Airport where Foresters employees took a portion of their professional development training to work together on a corporate “give back” initiative with Little Free Library. This is one element of Foresters history of providing life insurance with a larger purpose, which includes offering all policyholders (called members) a full suite of unique benefits that further Foresters fraternal mission of enriching the well-being of middle-market families and their communities.

FI’s flagship program, Real Dads Read (“RDR”) is aimed at elementary and middle school-aged children and their fathers/male caregivers to encourage a love of reading, improve literacy skills and educational outcomes, and to strengthen bonds between fathers/caregivers and their children. This partnership will allow 14 schools in Fulton and Clayton counties to become recipients of official Little Free Library book-sharing boxes to inspire a love of reading, cultivate community, and improve literacy proficiency for at-risk schools and communities.

“We are excited to extend our programs into more schools,” Kenneth Braswell shares. “It remains critically important to our mission to advance the messaging regarding fatherhood engagement and literacy.”  In addition to serving as CEO of Fathers Incorporated and Project Director over the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse (NRFC), Braswell also serves as a National Board Member of Little Free Library.

“Little Free Library believes in the power of partnerships and values the opportunity to work with Foresters Financial and Fathers Incorporated to expand book access and encourage reading for at-risk schools in Atlanta”, shares executive director, M. Greig Metzger. “Literacy is a national challenge and faster progress comes from joining efforts. Our book-sharing boxes and network of stewards are key tools in the toolbox as we work together to strengthen literacy through equitable book supply.  We are proud that Little Free Library has a presence in all 50 states and over 90 countries around the globe. That is all made possible by focused efforts with our partners.”

Schools that will be recipients of this special initiative include:

APS Schools

• Cleveland Avenue Elementary School
• Deerwood Academy
• Finch Elementary School
• Heritage Elementary School
• Kimberly Elementary School

Clayton County Schools

• Huie Elementary
• West Clayton Elementary
• Pointe South Elementary
• Thurgood Marshall Elementary
• Harper Elementary

Columbus, GA

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School
• Wesley Heights Elementary School

Fulton County

• Dunwoody Springs Elementary School

Henry County

• Flippen Elementary School

Fathers Incorporated is the leading national non-profit for the promotion of responsible fatherhood and has received high regard from major institutions such as Georgia State University, Annie E. Casey Foundation, Atlanta Cares and the Walton Family Foundation for its RDR program’s efforts to improve student achievement, increase parent engagement, improve adult reading and literacy behaviors, and prepare parents to help their children with school.

Tamika Morrison is the media contact and can be reached at 704-577-7257 or via email at tmorrison@fathersincorporated.com .

About Fathers Incorporated

Established in 2004, Fathers Incorporated (FI) has worked to engage, equip and empower a community network of fathers and families by creating an environment of support, parental education, positive societal narratives and a father-focused blueprint to elevate the awareness of responsible fatherhood. For more information, please visit www.fathersincorporated.com.

About Little Free Library

Little Free Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that inspires a love of reading, builds community, and improves book access by fostering neighborhood book-exchange boxes around the world. Little Free Library has received recognition from the Library of Congress, the National Book Foundation, and others for its dedication to expanding book access for all. There are more than 90,000 Little Free Library book-sharing boxes worldwide, in all 50 states and in 91 countries. Since the first little library was created in 2009, more than 120 million books have been shared. To learn more, support LFL’s programs, or become a volunteer steward, visit LittleFreeLibrary.org.

About Foresters Financial

Since 1874, Foresters Financial has been providing socially responsible financial services to individuals and families. Foresters Financial includes The Independent Order of Foresters, the oldest non-denominational fraternal benefit society. Foresters is a purpose-driven organization that exists to enrich family and community well-being and offers insurance products to over three million members and clients in Canada, the US and the U.K. For 19 straight years, The Independent Order of Foresters has received an “A” (Excellent) rating from A.M. Best[1]. Member benefits[2]  span opportunities for scholarships, community building grants, as well as financial counseling and access to complimentary or discounted legal advice. For more information please visit foresters.com.

[1] The A.M. Best rating assigned on August 14, 2019 reflects the overall strength and claims-paying ability of The Independent Order of Foresters (IOF) but does not apply to the performance of any non-IOF issued products. An “A” (Excellent) rating is assigned to companies that have a strong ability to meet their ongoing obligations to policyholders and have, on balance, excellent balance sheet strength, operating performance and business profile when compared to the standards established by A.M. Best Company. A.M. Best assigns ratings from A++ to F, A++ and A+ being superior ratings and A and A- being excellent ratings. See ambest.com for our latest rating.

[2] Foresters Financial member benefits are non-contractual, subject to benefit specific eligibility requirements, definitions and limitations and may be changed or cancelled without notice.