Rush University Medical Center is teaming up with the Chicago Bulls and Commonwealth Edison Company in a virtual book drive from February 23 to March 20 that aims to supply 250 textbooks to be donated to John C. Calhoun North Elementary School.

Donated books from Regent Books were pre-selected by teachers and will be used to supplement their current curriculum and before and after school programs that focus on science and math.

Selected books include, Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi, a book focusing on geometry and Basketball: Real World Math, which explores the connections between math and basketball, looking at how knowledge of measurement, tallying, averaging, and other math skills can help fans and athletes better understand and play the game.

Calhoun North Elementary is a member of the Science and Math Excellent (SAME) Network, a large-scale community service enterprise operated by the Department of Community Affairs at Rush University Medical Center that was developed in response to the low science, math and reading test scores in Chicago schools located near the hospital on the city’s near west side.

Formed in 1990, the SAME Network provides students in these neighborhoods with the same opportunities to learn math and science as are available to their peers in more affluent areas.  Since then, the SAME Network has grown into a collaborative between Rush University Medical Center and 45 elementary schools, six high schools and many Chicago-area businesses.

Mishawna Manning, coordinator of the Educator Program and College Preparatory Enrichment Program at Rush said, “The book drive is wonderful support for the science and math curriculum that is not as generously funded as other areas of the school curriculum, like English, where biographies or fiction books are the focus.”

The event will conclude with a presentation April 3 at Calhoun North Elementary School, located at 2833 W. Adams St., when the books will be delivered.

To donate to the Virtual Book Drive, visit http://www.nba.com/bulls/community/bookdrive_0809.html.