Ice cream maker donates 600 young adult novels to Toronto non-profit.
Markdale, ON – Canada’s favourite ice cream maker is teaming up with A Room Of Your Own Book Club to bring the love of reading to teen girls living in marginalized communities across Canada. Chapman’s Ice Cream is providing the non-profit organization with 600 books to be distributed to girls aged 13 to 18 in Toronto, Etobicoke, London, St. John’s, Halifax and other locations across Canada.
Chapman’s is donating 200 copies of “The Ones We’re Meant to Find” by Joan He, “So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix” by Bethany C. Morrow, and “Names in A Jar” by Jennifer Gold to the book club. After reading each young adult novel, the teens will have the opportunity to virtually meet the authors – and each other – over Zoom. These meetings will be conducted between September and December of 2021.
The collaboration is a first step at supporting A Room Of Your Own Book Club as it expands its reach across Canada.
“As a family, reading has always been such an important part of our daily lives,” says Ashley Chapman, VP of Chapman’s Ice Cream. “The love of reading is more than a past time, it is a force of nature that breaks down barriers and opens a person’s mind to other worlds. Literacy is a gift that never stops giving.”
Founded by Tanya Marie Lee in 2017, A Room Of Your Own Book Club harnesses the power of books to help teen girls find their voice, see their potential, and discuss issues they might face. Inspired by the sanctuary Lee found at the library during her own traumatic childhood, the Toronto-based book club welcomes girls from all races, ethnicities, religions, abilities, and sexual orientations, with a particular focus on girls living in at-risk communities.
“We choose authors from all different backgrounds as well, so the girls see themselves reflected in the novels,” says Lee.
In May 2019, 15 book club members were invited to a meet-and-greet with Michelle Obama prior to her speaking engagement at Scotiabank Arena. 
A Room Of Your Own Book Club went online last summer, after the global pandemic put an end to monthly meetings at Lilian H. Smith, Toronto Public Library. Since then, Lee has focussed on expanding her interactive book club to teen girls from coast to coast.
“Thanks to Chapman’s Ice Cream, A Room Of Your Own Book Club will be able to give teen girls the opportunity to grow their book collection and expand their mind,” says Lee. “All teens deserve the chance to create fun and meaningful memories to last a lifetime.”
About
Chapman’s Ice Cream is Canada’s largest independent ice cream maker, based out of Markdale, Ontario. Established in 1973, Chapman’s currently delivers over 180 of its products to all provinces and territories across Canada.
A Room Of Your Own Book Club is an interactive North American Book Club for teen girls aged 13 to 18 of all races and ethnic backgrounds. Founded in 2017, we celebrate teen girls, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
For more information visit www.chapmans.ca
For media inquiries, or to arrange an interview, please contact us at lchapman@chapmans.ca
