Jim Grant / Nevada AppealPaul Stowell of City National Bank and Caddie Dufurrena of Barnes & Noble donate boxes of new books for students at Fremont Elementary School on Tuesday.
Fremont Elementary School received 714 new books Tuesday from City National Bank through its Reading is The Way Up program and Barnes & Noble.The donation was well-timed, Principal Casey Gilles said.“This came at the perfect time for us,” she said. “Just in December, we used up the last of our books we've been giving to families and out Bingo for Books nights. This is an exciting day for us at Fremont.”In addition to the books, donated by patrons at the Reno Barnes & Noble throughout December, the bank gave $3,700 for the school to use at the bookstore.“Giving you books is an investment,” Carolyn Rodriguez, vice president and program administrator for City National Bank, told students during an assembly. “We, as a bank, are investing in your future so when you grow up you can get a good job. That's why it's important that we do what we do.”In exchange for the books, students signed pledges to read at least 20 minutes every day. “Thank you for ‘investing' in our future,” the pledges read. “We pledge to ‘deposit' 20 minutes of reading each night.”Paul Stowell, senior vice president and marketing manager for City National Bank, thanked them for their dedication. “The fact that you all took the pledge to read, that is wonderful,” he said. “That just made our day.”
