Founded in 1997, the mission of Operation Outreach-USA is to develop literacy and character in pre-kindergarten through middle school children. OO-USA provides books for classroom instruction that kids get to keep and take home to build personal libraries. More than 700,000 children in 30,000 classrooms have participated in the program nationwide, and almost 1.5 million books have thus far been distributed. Through thematic lesson plans and specially designed books that easily integrate into existing school curricula, the program teaches respect, responsibility, courage, leadership and determination. Selected in 2002 as the exclusive supplier of books and materials for Community Reading Day, an Alliance for Education event that matches 5000 volunteer reader/mentors with kids in 43 Massachusetts communities, OO-USA is free to schools and is supported by sponsors like you.