1.28.2010 News Release

Powis and BindRite Dealers Team Up to Support 826 Learning Centers

Donation of On Demand Publishing Equipment
Makes Every Kid an Author

When an inner city public school student participates in an “826” writing workshop, each one leaves the class as a published author, their written contributions printed and professionally bound. It’s one of the many ways this non-profi t tutoring organization has broken teaching molds for writing and other creative endeavors.

Founded by best selling author and screen writer Dave Eggers, 826 is a privately funded tutoring, writing, and publishing organization with storefront locations in eight cities across the country. Whimsical storefront themes such as the Pirate Store in San Francisco or the Boring Store (really a spy supplies store) in Chicago contribute to a somewhat droll approach that informs the 826 educational philosophy. The 826 strategy is based on the concept that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention, and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success in the real world. Local urban storefronts provide drop-in tutoring, after-school workshops, in-schools tutoring, help for English language learners, and assistance with student publications.

However, as a privately supported organization operating in a tough economy, the 826 centers receive no public funds, and are persistently seeking fi nancial support. In the past few years, specifi c help for the instant, on-site publishing aspect of the workshop curriculum has been provided by Powis, a Berkeley, CAbased manufacturer of on-demand binding machines, in partnership with local BindRite dealers. In addition to providing the on-demand thermal binding machines for each 826 location, Powis has now offered the spine binding elements at below cost to BindRite members. Individual dealers are committed to purchasing quantities appropriate for donation to their local 826 center.

For the year 2010, the result will be 28,000 students nationwide who will walk away from an 826 workshop with a professionally bound publication that would not look out of place in any library or bookstore.

ABOUT POWIS Powis is the originator of the Fastback® tabletop binding machine that produces beautiful and durable publications, as well as bookstore-quality perfect binding and hardcovers. The product line ranges from small offi ce machines to systems that support a high volume digital press. Powis’s bind on demand technology is used by leading photo book manufacturers, multiple Fortune 500 companies and governments worldwide. www.powis.com

ABOUT BINDRITE Authorized BindRite Dealers are members of a North America-wide network group of independent companies, dedicated to selling and servicing document binding, fi nishing and specialty presentation products. BindRite network members are required by contract to maintain the highest standards of product selection, customer service and technical support. www.bindrite.com

       

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