Summary: Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe are talking to Natasha Collins, BOOK IT! Program Administrator at Pizza Hut. BOOK IT! is a free program designed to encourage students in grades K–6 to read more by earning a reading award certificate for a free, one-topping personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut. Talk about early adopters: Pizza Hut launched the BOOK IT! program in 1984! On the show, Megan, Natasha and I discuss: - How BOOK IT! got started way back in 1984 by a former president who wanted his son to read more! - How the program works with reading teachers, students and local Pizza Hut restaurants. - How simplicity, commitment and community engagement have kept the program running so long. - How the program benefits Pizza Hut by creating a strong, literate workforce. - How Natasha manages the BOOK IT! program with a six-person team and a year-long calendar of promotion, enrollment and participation. - How the program has evolved over the years and what BOOK IT! has done to keep the program fresh. This year, BOOK IT! has involved children's author Kate DiCamillo. - How and why Natasha to BOOK IT! after a successful career at public relations giant FleishmanHillard. - How the BOOK IT! program fits into the overall structure of Pizza Huts' CSR efforts within the YUM! brand, which is their parent company. **Links & Notes** - [BOOK IT!](http://www.bookitprogram.com/) - [BOOK IT! on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/bookitprogram) - [One Newton’ T-Shirt Raises Money For Victims Of Sweet Tomatoes Crash](http://boston.cbslocal.com/2016/03/07/t-shirt-fundraiser-newton-sweet-tomatoes-victims/)
