Bagley Elementary School Receives 400 Books From Strategic Staffing Solutions

By Edward Cardenas

DETROIT (CBS Detroit) - Students at Bagley Elementary School received the gift of reading this week from Strategic Staffing Solutions.

Children at the Detroit Public School received more than 400 books from the company's annual book donation to local schools, and heard from S3 Executive Vice President Allen Coleman and Detroit Branch Manager Shalini Lawson who read stories to students.

"Among S3's core pillars of community giving is our focus on children, and our support for programs that improve literacy," S3 CEO and President Cynthia J. Pasky, in a release. "For 25 years, making an intentional effort to have a direct impact on the communities we serve, wherever we do business, has been built into the fiber of our company."

This year's donation continues a 10-year tradition of collecting and delivering books to local students and the company's long-term commitment to the Detroit Public Schools.

After receiving a larger number of books this year, Pasky sought out a dedicated partner with the Detroit Public Schools Foundation to "provide expertise and coordination" to coordinate and facilitate the distribution effort.

"Through this partnership with the DPS Foundation and the Office of Literacy, we're able to take a strategic approach and match students to the books that meet their individual age and reading skill levels," Pasky stated.

"The DPS Foundation thanks Strategic Staffing Solutions for its generous book donation," said Dr. Glenda Price, president of the Detroit Public Schools Foundation. "We welcome these types of in-kind collaborations and encourage other groups and companies to contact us to discuss their donation ideas that can directly support DPS student activities and programs."

In addition to supporting childhood literacy initiatives, Pasky is a co-vice chair on the board of Reading Works, a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing literacy in Metro Detroit's adult population.

"With one in three adults in Metro Detroit reading below a sixth-grade level, it's critical to identify and support programs that are equipped to help people of all ages to change their station in life," said Pasky. "We also know that increased literacy leads to higher employment rates and a higher standard of living for the entire community. This partnership with the DPSF and the Office of Literacy is a perfect example of our approach to creating intentional relationships with organizations that align with our core pillars of community giving, enhancing our ability to drive lasting change."

In 2014, S3 donated nearly $2 million to community enrichment projects in Detroit and in all 31 branch locations in the U.S. and Europe.