Save the Children Reading Campaign Hits the Road this Summer, Helping Kids Get Ready for School with Critical Resources, Fun Learning Activities

Bus Tour Fueled by Support from SC Johnson, T.J.Maxx to Provide School Supplies, Meals to Kids in Need across America

FAIRFIELD, Conn. (July 7, 2021) – Save the Children is taking its 100 Days of Reading campaign on the road this summer with a 10-city bus tour supported by SC Johnson and T.J.Maxx. The tour, which kicks off this week, will bring summer learning, fun activities and essential resources to help kids in need across America prepare for the upcoming school year.

Save the Children – in partnership with SC Johnson, makers of iconic brands such as Windex® and OFF!®, and T.J.Maxx – has stuffed the bus with backpacks of school supplies, educational materials and personal care products, which they will be hand delivering to families in cities from coast to coast starting July 10, along with food at a number of tour stops. The mobile 100 Days of Reading tour – on the road through August 29, powered by an eco-friendly, clean fuel bus – will also host educational games and activities on-site to promote family engagement, learning and fun."

“Summer is a crucial time for kids to build on what they’ve learned during the school year, and they need fun ways to stay engaged in reading and learning all summer long. That’s why Save the Children created 100 Days of Reading and its accompanying cross-country bus tour,” said Betsy Zorio, Vice President of U.S. Programs for Save the Children. “We are tremendously grateful to SC Johnson and T.J.Maxx for helping make this tour a reality, and ensuring we can feed the minds and bellies of America’s most vulnerable children during this critical time.”

Among numerous activities on site, participating children can get clued in to learning with an interactive, kindergarten readiness activity featuring a larger-than-life, magnetic storybook from Nickelodeon’s Blue’s Clues & You!, and have fun with math as they race to the finish with characters from Nickelodeon’s Blaze and the Monster Machines. Kids can also play The Greatest Catch game, presented by SC Johnson, which teaches about the importance of recycling plastic. The Longest Story Ever Told activity, presented by T.J.Maxx, empowers each child to help author a book, adding another sentence or two to a building story that will be shared with the participants and the community.

“SC Johnson is a proud sponsor of the 100 Days of Reading campaign. We know that, on average, one out of every six children who isn't reading proficiently by third grade will not graduate high school,” Alan VanderMolen, Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer at SC Johnson. “As reading is essential to future success, it’s important that students are equipped with the skills needed for success and this program enables future generations.”

The 100 Days of Reading Bus Tour will be rolling into the following cities this summer: San Francisco; Los Angeles; New Orleans; Atlanta; Nashville; Charlotte and Stanley, N.C.; Bay City, Mich.; Racine, Wis.; and Boston.

"T.J.Maxx has been a proud partner of Save the Children for 37 years, and we believe in its mission of providing children access to quality education,” said Gina Bollus, Manager of Marketing for T.J.Maxx. “We’re looking forward to helping Save the Children provide children with much-needed school supplies and food so they can keep their minds and bodies nourished during the critical summer months, to set them up for success at school come fall."

Described by the popular online parent-focused website Red Tricycle as “one more way to help your kids have the ultimate summer of fun and learning, while giving back at the same time,” 100 Days of Reading, provides tips and activities on its Instagram (@savethechildren) and at SavetheChildren.org/READ to help ensure children continue engaging in reading and stay active all summer long. Now through September 8, every link that is clicked or tapped by participants will help unlock donations of books, educational materials and healthy food for 750,000 kids living in some of America’s most impoverished, rural communities – where Save the Children is working every day to ensure children are getting the early learning and educational support they need to be successful in school and life.

To learn more, visit SavetheChildren.org/READ.

About SC Johnson
SC Johnson is a family company dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, pest control and shoe care, as well as professional products. It markets such well-known brands as GLADE®, KIWI®, OFF!®, PLEDGE®, RAID®, SCRUBBING BUBBLES®, SHOUT®, WINDEX® and ZIPLOC® in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including AUTAN®, BAYGON®, BRISE®, KABIKILLER®, KLEAR®, MR MUSCLE® and RIDSECT®. The 135-year-old company, which generates $10 billion in sales, employs approximately 13,000 people globally and sells products in virtually every country around the world. www.scjohnson.com

About Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon, now in its 42nd year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The brand includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, location-based experiences, publishing and feature films. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of ViacomCBS Inc. (Nasdaq: VIACA, VIAC).