OREANDA-NEWS. October 31, 2012. The Tata group of companies today announced a donation of 10,000 new books to school children in Southern Ontario. The gift is Tata’s first donation in Canada and marks an expansion in Tata’s partnership with award-winning nonprofit organisation, First Book.

“Today’s event marks our small contribution in providing children with as many opportunities to read age-appropriate books at home. The Tata group has a longtime commitment to supporting the educational advancements of young people in the Canadian communities in which we operate,” said Kapil Sharma, senior general manager, North America. “We are proud of the growth and success of our partnership with First Book, and thrilled that our continued collaboration has brought us the opportunity to gift 10,000 books to students in Southern Ontario.”

To commemorate this partnership milestone, 30 employees from six Tata companies, including Tata Sons, Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Technologies, Tata Global Beverages, Tata Communications and Jaguar Land Rover, will join representatives from First Book on the morning of October 26 at Hewson Public School in Brampton, Ontario. Employee volunteers and students will share the new books by reading in lively groups. Each student will receive two new books to start their personal library.

“We are just so grateful to have the corporate support of the Tata group of companies in Canada. We believe that when a child holds a new book, experiences the joy a story brings and gets to own that book, it awakens a passion for learning that delivers on the promise of a better life,” said Tom Best, executive director for First Book Canada. “Tata’s support is helping us deliver that promise for children across Southern Ontario who do not have the opportunity to own books.”

Tata established its partnership with First Book in December 2007 and has since distributed more than 165,000 books valued at over USD 1.3 million to children across the United States.