Toon Disney’s Passport to Reading program introduces kids to great stories and rewards them for reading. Throughout the summer, Toon Disney and Power to Learn provided "Reading Passports" to the Roxbury Public Library. Each time a child completed a book, his or her passport was "stamped" with a colorful sticker featuring popular Toon Disney characters.  During Saturday’s celebration, children will receive colorful bookmarks and a Passport to Reading achievement certificate for completing the program and achieving their reading goals.

"Cablevision’s Power to Learn was thrilled to partner with Toon Disney’s Passport to Reading program for the third straight year and we are so proud of the commitment children in the Roxbury community made to this educational summer reading program," said Adam Falk, Cablevision’s vice president of New Jersey public affairs. "This exciting and interactive program has been tremendously rewarding for the children who participated and we are very pleased to bring the community together to celebrate their accomplishments."

Roxbury Councilman Fred Hall and Roxbury Town Manager Christopher Raths are expected to attend Saturday’s event along with Roxbury Library Director Mary Romance.  Mayor Richard Zoschak will deliver a recorded congratulation to the children for their summer reading achievements.

"The children in our community showed a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and dedication to reading this summer as a result of Toon Disney and Power to Learn’s Read to Achieve program," said Mary Romance, director of the Roxbury Library.  "We look forward to many more successful reading summers ahead."

"Expanding imaginations through creative storytelling and enchanting characters is at the root of Toon Disney’s programming mission," said Rich Ross, President, Disney Channel Worldwide.  "The Passport to Reading program allows us to take the spirit of Toon Disney off-channel and encourage kids to use reading as an alternative way of entertaining themselves, so that they discover the fun of engaging their minds through books."

Visit www.powertolearn.com to access online resources, including a recommended booklist from the Association of Library Service for Children, reading tips and Toon Disney comics, as well as information on how to participate in the Read to Achieve rewards program.

About Power to Learn

Power to Learn, Cablevision's nationally recognized education initiative, empowers K-12 learning in the tri-state area by making technology in the classroom useful and by facilitating the home-school connection. By the end of 2004, more than 2,000 schools and libraries throughout Cablevision's New York metropolitan service area will receive high-speed Internet access and more than 85 percent of schools in Cablevision's service area will receive free cable television service as a result of this initiative. In addition, teachers, students and parents benefit from innovative educational content and tools available on www.powertolearn.com, a broadband Web resource dedicated to facilitating K-12 learning and the home-school connection.

About Toon Disney

TOON DISNEY, a 24-hour all-animation basic cable network, offers the best variety of Disney animation, toon movies, and high-energy action adventure.  Family-friendly and targeted toward children six to 11, Toon Disney is intended to complement the Disney Channel's variety of programming for kids and families by providing continuous-and at times exclusive-access to Disney's animated programming.  Toon Disney is also the primetime home to Jetix, a high-energy programming block built on action, adventure, daring and humor.