By Lyanne Alfaro
Northside
A normal day for American supermodel Niki Taylor consists of traveling to New York City or Europe to promote fashion.
But since this spring, the supermodel has been doing a different kind of touring. She’s taking part in Reader’s Digest’s “We Hear You America,” 100 Cities/100 Days RV Tour campaign. On April 19, Taylor made a stop in Chicago and presented a $1,000 check to Chicago Park District’s Chief Administrative Officer Mark Thomas and Gabriel Levinson of bookbike.org. The check will be used for the city’s civic projects.
Reader’s Digest’s campaign is to promote financial stimulus by providing a total of $7.5 million to towns affected the most by the economic downturn. The magazine hosts a “cheer” competition online in which residents vote for their communities to receive aid. The top 10 towns with the most “cheers” or votes by the end of the voting period will receive the bulk of the stimulus.
“I don’t know who will win yet, but I hope it’s anybody who cheers the most for their town,” Taylor said. “I would love to pass out anywhere from $10,000 to $40,000.”
Another 90 towns will also receive smaller stimulus checks.
Reader’s Digest also featured Levinson in its Best of America issue. He received the “Best Wheeler Dealer” title for his efforts on improving literacy by distributing free books from a custom-built tricycle he calls the Book Bike. Taylor, who has a 2-year-old daughter, encourages Levinson’s efforts at home. “I think it’s important to keep people interested in books,” Taylor said. “What a great way to give back to people in Chicago.”
The campaign is ongoing until polls close on May 16. To cheer for your town, visit wehearyouamerica.readersdigest.com.
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