News

Cultivating community support for reading

June 25, 2015

Saltchuk Hawaii Companies Supports Reading Through Generous Donation to Book Trust

Maui County, HI—Saltchuk, a family owned company and the parent company of Aloha Air Cargo, Hawaii/Maui Petroleum, Ohana Fuels, Minit Stop, Young Brothers, and Foss Hawaii has pledged $10,000 to Book Trust in support of Maui elementary school students. Book Trust, a national literacy organization, provides books to children from low-income families, books students choose themselves and that become their very own.

Book Trust operates in fifteen states and serves over 36,000 children, including 4,500 students in Maui. The Saltchuk Hawaii Companies donation allows Book Trust to provide the opportunity for 100 children to select and own roughly 3,000 books over the course of the school year.

“Studies prove book choice and ownership inspire a child’s passion for reading and contribute to strong literacy skills and learning,” said Book Trust President & CEO, Amy Friedman. “Our goal is to help inspire that passion by creating literacy-rich environments for kids and families.

Putting more books in the hands and homes of kids is the first step in not only cultivating a love of reading but an increased chance at academic success.”

Thanks to the support of Saltchuk, students will have the opportunity to grow their personal, at- home libraries.

“This generous contribution is so important to our students and families,” said Halle Maxwell, Principal of Kihei Elementary. “Thanks to Saltchuk, Book Trust will continue to help us grow our school-to-home literacy connection. For many of our students, this is a vital and needed opportunity to continue to build their home library and the support we’ve received means we can help them develop a love of books at an early age.”

To date, Book Trust has put 3.5 million books in the hands of students nationwide. With national offices based jointly in Colorado and Hawaii, Book Trust’s Hawaii focus has placed over 830,000 books in the hands and homes of over 5,000 children across the state. Saltchuk’s gift will ensure Book Trust continues to uniquely offer choice and ownership of books to young students.

“Literacy is the foundation of learning, and if we can help promote literacy and learning among children, we know we are doing something to help improve an entire community. Through Book Trust, students at 14 Elementary schools in Maui County will receive up to three books per month to bring home and share with their siblings and families. By the end of the school year, that can be thirty books, and that can have a meaningful impact,” stated Saltchuk Regional Giving Committee member Kimo Haynes, President of Maui and Hawaii Petroleum.

To learn more about Book Trust and its efforts to promote reading and literacy among children of low-income families in Hawaii and nationwide, please visit booktrust.org

About Book Trust

Book Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower children from low-income families to choose and own books, inspiring a passion for reading and cultivating increased literacy skills and life-long learning. Established in 2001, Book Trust currently serves over 30,000 students in 15 states. To date, Book Trust has put over 3.5 million books in the hands and homes of kids. For more about Book Trust, visit booktrust.org

About Saltchuk Resources’ Hawai‘i-based Companies

The Saltchuk Hawaii Companies consist of Aloha Air Cargo, Maui and Hawaii Petroleum, Minit Stop Shops, Young Brothers, and Foss Hawaii. Young Brothers provides scheduled cargo services by barge throughout the Hawaiian Islands; Maui Petroleum and Hawaii Petroleum provide fuel distribution services; Aloha Air Cargo provides air cargo services throughout the Hawaiian Islands, Foss Maritime provides harbor ship assist services; and Minit Stop locations provide convenience retail services on Maui and Hawai‘i.