Houston-area schools and education programs will receive 20,000 new books from specialty retailer Conn’s, Inc. The distribution event marks the first major activation of Conn’s Cares, a new philanthropic program that is helping improve the communities it serves by empowering children.

Today, more than 150 local Houston educators will receive 125 new books – one for each year Conn’s has been in business – for their school or program, all of which serve a high population of students from low-income households for whom books are often scarce. More than 75 Conn’s employees volunteered to sort and distribute books on Wednesday, February 25, in preparation for today’s donation event.

“Conn’s is proud to be part of the Houston community,” said Theodore M. Wright, Conn’s chairman and chief executive officer. “We know there are children in greater Houston who lack access to books and helping fill that void will give them greater opportunity to succeed.”

First Book, a nonprofit social enterprise that provides books and educational resources to children in need, is facilitating the donation as part of a long-term literacy partnership with Conn’s.

“Books pave the path to a child’s success, in school and in life,” said Kyle Zimmer, president and CEO of First Book. “By putting these critical educational resources into the hands of local kids in need, Conn’s is improving lives today and investing in the future of the Houston community.”

Launching In “Space City”

Launching Conn’s Cares in Houston was an easy decision for the Company. In addition to being its headquarter city, Houston is Conn’s largest market with 22 stores and more than 800 employees in the immediate area.

Choosing literacy for this inaugural activation of Conn’s Cares is a tribute to the Company’s rich philanthropic history. Literacy has been a focus of Conn’s dating back to when C.W. Conn, Jr. would join employees to read in the schools of its founding city, Beaumont, Texas.

“As Conn’s celebrates its 125th anniversary, we are pleased that Conn’s Cares reinforces our Company’s commitment to improve communities through education,” said Wright. “Investing in children creates a ripple effect of positive outcomes for generations.”

About Conn's

Conn’s is a specialty retailer currently operating more than 90 retail locations in Arizona, Colorado, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. The Company’s primary product categories include:

  • Furniture and mattress, including furniture and related accessories for the living room, dining room and bedroom, as well as both traditional and specialty mattresses;
  • Home appliance, including refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, dishwashers and ranges;
  • Consumer electronics, including LCD, LED, 3-D, Ultra HD and plasma televisions, Blu-ray players, home theater and video game products, digital cameras and portable audio equipment; and
  • Home office, including computers, tablets, printers and accessories.

Additionally, Conn’s offers a variety of products on a seasonal basis. Unlike many of its competitors, Conn’s provides flexible in-house credit options for its customers in addition to third-party financing programs and third party rent-to-own payment plans.

About First Book

First Book is a nonprofit social enterprise that has distributed more than 155 million books and educational resources to programs and schools serving children from low-income families through the United States and Canada. By making new, high-quality books available on an ongoing basis, First Book is transforming the lives of children in need and elevating the quality of education. For more information, visit firstbook.org or follow the latest news on Facebook and Twitter.