A Holiday Tale

On December 6^th, 2003, Boise shoppers of all ages turned out to fill their holiday gift lists and benefit literacy at the same time. On this day participating downtown merchants donated 10% of their sales to help fight illiteracy in Idaho. Entertainers filled the pocket park on 9^th with music, song and the spirit of the holidays. And shoppers stopped for a homemade chocolate chip cookie and a cup of hot chocolate before forging back out to the stores.

Mayor Terteling-Payne opened the ceremonies and introduced Idaho’s First Lady Patricia Kempthorne who spoke on the importance of literacy. Entertainers from Carole Whiteleather of the Idaho Shakespeare Festival who performed a riveting rendition of A Christmas Story, to the a cappella group Brokin’ Silence, to Opera Idaho, kept everyone within hearing distance entertained. Even Santa stopped by to read The Night Before Christmas.

Participating merchants contributed 10% of their sales for the day to benefit the Lee Pesky Learning Center and the Learning Lab. Participating merchants included Book and Game, Esse Baby, Expressions Custom Furniture, Gino’s Italian Restaurant, Hal Davis Jewelers, Kandor, Lavender, Latta, Piazza di Vino, Piper Pub and Grill, Pollo Rey, Scandia Down, Smart Feet, and World Cycle.

Sponsors included Boise State Radio, Boise Weekly, Journal Broadcast Group, The Idaho Statesman, Thrive, Wells Fargo, and Zeppole.

Next year’s event is being planned so mark your calendar for December 4, 2004 and come downtown - use your holiday shopping to help kids learn to read. Join us in celebrating the season of giving as downtown Boise merchants sponsor something special for the holidays in support of literacy.

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