AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -

A new partnership for Chrysler brand will help the company to meet both the physical and educational needs of children in metro Detroit. 

From mid-July through September, Chrysler brand announced it will partner with United Way for Southeastern Michigan and Michigan No Kid Hungry to distribute 148,500 Scholastic children’s books.

The books will be distributed via “Meet Up and Eat Up” events, early learning communities, health centers and an elementary school within the area.

“Donating these books is a part of Chrysler brand’s mission to both help drive the importance of early education and also to ensure that those children who need lunch when school is not in session have the opportunity to receive it,” said Saad Chehab, president and CEO, Chrysler Brand, Chrysler Group LLC.

“We hope the distribution of these books inspires children’s imaginations and helps to provide them with some of the necessary tools they’ll need to achieve a limitless future,” Chehab said.  

Citing recent research from the Scholastic-created Kids & Family Reading Report, Chrysler officials say that having a reading role-model/parent or a large book collection at home has a greater impact on kids’ reading frequency than does household income.

Chrysler’s book distribution supports the efforts of UWSEM and Michigan No Kid Hungry to increase participation in both summer meal programs and early education initiatives, by helping to put books into the hands of children who need them most.

Chrysler officials note that the brand and its dealers are committed to enriching young lives nationwide. Via the Drive for the Kids program, introduced in 1993, the company has contributed more than $4 million directly to local schools for student needs from playgrounds and field trips to reading programs and new computers.