Promote literacy - and maybe go to SDCC

14 APRIL 2017

Contest time! This is your chance to help kids read and maybe help yourself go to Comic-Con.

This contest comes to you courtesy of IDW and Traveling Stories, so yes, it's legit. Never heard of Traveling Stories, you say? Their mission "is to help kids fall in love with reading by the 4th grade." So you know they're good people.

What the winner gets

• Two 4-day badges to SDCC
• Roundtrip airfare and hotel for 2
• A stack of comic books
• 2 tickets to the Wynonna Earp party
• Meet and greet with Kevin Eastman of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle fame

How to enter

Visit their site and make a donation to a literacy program. You can go as low as $10, if your wallet is a bit light at the moment.


The reality check

This contest has been promoted at WonderCon and runs through 14 June, so you'll have plenty of competition.


Why you should enter anyhow

Because 32 million U.S. adults can't read. That's 14% of the population; and 21% read below a 5th grade reading level. So even if you don't win this contest, you'll help people have more earning power, higher political literacy, and the joy that comes from reading magnificent books and comics.

And given that 82% of kids from low-income families have trouble reading by 4th grade, setting them up for an unemployable future, contributing to literacy programs does more than help these kids on an individual basis - it creates a healthier economy and puts more incredible books, screenplays and graphic novels in everyone's future. Every writer begins as a reader, after all.

Good luck.