Raise for Rowyn co-founder Brynn Johnson, right, shares a laugh with friend April Bickarpierce and 18-month-old Brooklyn Pierce Friday at Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Olympia. The business hosted a book-reading of "The Polar Express" to honor Maddy Tower, one of three children killed in a March 4 house fire in Centralia. Raise for Rowyn is a nonprofit organization that raises money to help families defray mortuary and funeral expenses for children they have lost.
Brad Tower, the father of three children killed in a March 4 house fire in Centralia, chats with Washington Elementary School Principal Danielle Vekich Friday at Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Olympia. The business hosted a book-reading of "The Polar Express" to honor Maddy Tower, one of Tower's deceased children. Raise for Rowyn is a nonprofit organization that raises money to help families defray mortuary and funeral expenses for children they have lost.
Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Olympia hosted a book-reading of "The Polar Express" on Friday to honor Maddy Tower, one of three children killed in a March 4 house fire in Centralia.
Raise for Rowyn is a nonprofit organization that raises money to help families defray mortuary and funeral expenses for children they have lost.
As part of the event, which was arranged by Maddy's father, Brad Tower, a list of all of Maddy's favorite books was available. "The Conductor" began handing out free tickets at about 7 p.m. for the first 50 kids. He punched their tickets and gave away large "jingle bells."
According to Raise for Rowyn, the Conductor led a game of “Conductor Says” followed by an interactive reading of "The Polar Express."
Attendees were also treated to cocoa and cookies.
For those who told cashiers at the business they were there for Raise for Rowyn, Barnes and Noble donated 25 percent of the total purchase to the Tenino-based nonprofit.
The business is continuing that part of the promotion through Dec. 6.
Visit www.raiseforrowyn.org to learn more.
Ben, 12, and Maddy, 10, both Washington Elementary School students, and their younger brother Sam, 7, died in a house fire on March 4 in Centralia.
