January 18, 2005

LANSING – Peggy’s Place, a Detroit residence that provides transitional housing for women and children, will be the recipient of 100 children’s books that are being donated by First Gentleman Daniel Granholm Mulhern under the Scholastic Read for 2005 program.

Mulhern is the national co-chair for the Read for 2005 program. A representative from the Governor’s office was on hand to donate the books at an event today in Detroit.

"I know these books have found a good home at Peggy’s Place," Mulhern said. "The mothers who reside there can make great use of them by helping instill the importance of reading in their children."

Mulhern donated the books to Peggy’s Place as part of a global initiative sponsored by Scholastic that emphasizes the importance of reading to children. The initiative encourages parents and teachers to read to children for 2005 seconds (approximately 33 minutes) a day.

Mulhern is involved in the initiative along with several other gubernatorial spouses in the United States. He serves as co-chair of Scholastic Read for 2005 along with Anita Perry, the First Lady of Texas. Throughout 2005, Mulhern will make other donations of children’s books to schools, community organizations, and libraries.

The United Auto Workers, Detroit Pistons, and Job Corps all have teamed up to establish a library and computer center at Peggy’s Place. Representatives from the three organizations were on hand today to dedicate the new library and computer center.

Currently, Peggy’s Place is home to 23 families.

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