The good Cornellians can do: Penelope Eifrig ’90

Penelope Eifrig '90 and her non-profit, Random Acts of Reading, launched the Golden Ticket to Literacy project in 2022. The project uses cool vending machines to share books penned by diverse authors, featuring relatable characters.

In 2023, the Pennsylvania Secretary of Education visited the program pilot at Centre Hall Elementary School in Centre Hall, Pennsylvania. Penelope shares that the kids there are super excited to pick out their favorites from the book vending machine installed in their school.

“The kids get excited as they pass by the machine on a daily basis, checking out what books have moved to the front of the racks and are available for selection,” Penelope says.

Students who find a golden ticket inside their book win a school visit from the book's author, as well as free copies of the book for their classmates. The project builds enthusiasm for reading, exposure to new books and authors, and a school spirit that celebrates new readers.

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