March 15, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE FOUNDATION AT MCCC ANNOUNCES
KICK OFF OF ‘THE BIG READ’ IN MONROE

Monroe Will Come Together to Read and Celebrate Fahrenheit 451

MONROE, Mich. ––  The Foundation at Monroe County Community College will launch its month-long Big Read program in celebration of Fahrenheit 451, a novel by Ray Bradbury, with The Big Read Monroe Kick-Off on Sunday, March 18 at 2 p.m. in Loranger Square in Downtown Monroe.

The event is free and open to the public.

The Big Read is presented in conjunction with the DTE Energy Foundation, Holcim, Monroe Bank & Trust and Monroe Publishing Company.

Books, reader’s guides and other materials will be distributed at the Kick-Off.  In addition, each attendee is encouraged to bring a favorite book to exchange with another person.

The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts designed to restore reading to the center of American culture.  The NEA presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest.  The Big Read brings together partners across the county to encourage reading for pleasure and enlightenment. 

The Foundation at Monroe County Community College is one of 72 organizations nationwide selected to receive an NEA Big Read Grant. 

From March 18 to April 21, Monroe will celebrate Fahrenheit 451 with a full calendar of events such as book discussions, film festivals, writing competitions, presentations and more.

A full calendar of Big Read Monroe events is available at www.monroeccc.edu/bigread.