(Left to right) Hilary Atkins, Julie and Paul Stalknecht watch as Stan Johnson, chairman of ACCA, announces the organization’s donation to Reading Is Fundamental. RIF is the oldest and largest children's and family nonprofit literacy organization in the United States.

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) reported its most successful year ever of donating to the Reading Is Fundamental initiative. Held in conjunction each year with its Annual Conference and Indoor Air Expo, ACCA donates children’s books and money to libraries or schools located in the city in which the event is held. With ACCA’s 42nd annual event happening in Tampa, Fla., a Tampa public library received hundreds of books and a cash donation exceeding $500.

“ACCA feels strongly that the ‘Throw a Book in Your Bag’ effort is a way for annual event participants to give back to the cities we visit,” said Hilary Atkins, vice president of finance and administration for ACCA. “Our contractor members from all across the United States brought children’s books with them to Tampa and made monetary donations to make this year a record-breaking effort.”

ACCA presented its donation to Tampa library officials during the conference.

“I’m pleased to announce that our group rose admirably to the occasion,” said Stan Johnson, ACCA past-chairman, as he presented the donation on behalf of ACCA to Tampa library officials.

ACCA organizes the yearly effort in conjunction with Reading Is Fundamental Inc., a national organization that prepares and motivates children to read by delivering free books and literacy resources to those children and families who need it most.

For more information, visit www.acca.org.

Publication date:04/12/2010