Code Read, a Santa Clarita nonprofit, is participating in a fundraising competition called “Newman’s Own Foundation $500k Holiday Challenge” to raise money to buy new books for underserved youth in Los Angeles, officials said Monday.

The organization that raises the most funds online by Jan. 3 wins $150,000, according to officials.  

The “Newman’s Own Foundation $500k Holiday Challenge” is organized by CrowdRise — one of the largest fundraising platforms — for eligible US-based 501(c)3 charities to compete.

The “Newman’s Own Foundation $500k Holiday Challenge” launched on CrowdRise on Nov. 21. There are 10 grand prizes up for grabs, ranging from $2,500 to $150,000.

Weekly bonus challenges enable charities to win up to another $115,000, a news release said.

“This fundraising competition is a great opportunity for ‘Code Read’ to raise additional funds to help us reach as many students as possible in our mission to promote literacy,” said Mackenzie Krestul, the founder of the nonprofit.

17-year-old Krestul founded the Code Read organization in 2016 with the mission of providing recreational books to elementary school children in low-income communities.

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“We are currently working with the Palmdale District, but we are hoping to expand all over L.A. and hopefully all over California.” Krestul said. “I’m hoping to open up a chapter wherever I go to college.”

By providing books to children who would otherwise not be able to afford them, the organization hopes to increase literacy and foster a lifetime love of reading, according to a news release.

Code Read has distributed 5,000 new books to kids in the year since it was started.

“We provide ‘Book Bucks’ for teachers to reward to students based on merit,” according to the Code Read website. “In a book fair fashion, children can then use their Book Bucks to choose from our collection when we visit their school.”

To find the Code Read campaign page, click here. To find out more about the Newman’s Own Foundation $500k Holiday Challenge, click here.  

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