Country Inns & Suites Sponsors Reading Rainbow Young Writers & Illustrators Contest

Reading Rainbow and Country Inns & Suites By Carlson today announced the national winners of the Reading Rainbow 14th Annual Young Writers & Illustrators Contest. Country Inns & Suites By Carlson(SM) is a presenting sponsor of the program and Steve Mogck, executive vice president of Franchise Operations for Carlson Hotels Worldwide, parent company of Country Inns, served on the judging panel, which met in June in Washington D.C. to determine the 12 national winners.

"It's truly an honor to be a judge for this nationally recognized Contest that supports children's literacy as I have such a strong connection with Reading Rainbow on both a personal and professional level," said Mogck. "My wife is a former elementary reading teacher who has encouraged our three children to love reading. Each of them has been a fan of Reading Rainbow through the years. The program is high quality and has had a very positive impact on many children, including my own."

"We are pleased to continue an association with Reading Rainbow through our Read It & Return Lending Libraries at Country Inns & Suites to provide our guests' children the opportunity to be positively impacted by this great program," Mogck added.

"We applaud Country Inns & Suites for their leadership in literacy," said Donald K. Boswell, President and CEO of WNED, the co-producer of Reading Rainbow. "As an engaged public citizen, Country Inns & Suites is contributing to one of public television's most important missions -- to help children build reading and writing skills, while forging a personal connection to a creative process."