VISA has renewed its annual sponsorship of the Reading Is Fundamental program for the third time. This year VISA is donating $300,000 to help the organization's efforts in promoting children's' literacy. This latest contribution will bring VISA's total donation to more than $2.6 million since 1996. PNC Bank, First USA, Union Bank of California, Capital One, Fifth Third Bank, and USAA First Federal Savings are also working closely with VISA and RIF to sponsor underfunded RIF program sites. In select cities, VISA and its member banks will host RIF site events to encourage people to donate books and distribute RIF's Reading Check-up Guide, which helps parents gauge their children's reading development. A significant portion of VISA's donation will go to help more than forty underfunded RIF programs across the country. RIF and VISA have selected 42 "sites" -- including schools, community centers, public housing units, Early Childhood Development centers, Head-Start centers and other locations -- to receive grants.  As the nation's largest children's and family literacy organization, Reading Is Fundamental develops and delivers programs that help prepare young children for reading and motivate school-age children to read regularly. Through a national network of 240,000 teachers, parents and community volunteers, RIF programs operate in 16,500 sites nationwide to provide 3.5 million children with books and other essential literacy resources, at no cost to them or their families. Merchants can benefit from VISA's RIF partnership by creating overlay programs that drive traffic, build sales, and increase customer and employee retention and loyalty. Merchants can order a 1999-2000 Program Extension Kit which outlines merchant benefits, program ideas, customizable publicity and promotional materials, and program resources. In addition, merchants can also order other materials including tent cards, counter cards, take-ones, register/window decals and posters; web site materials, such as banners and icons; apparel; and promotional children's books by calling 1-800-235-2311.