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Mankato Children's Publisher Donates 300,000 Books

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- A Mankato-based publisher will donate 300,000 overstock children's books to a nonprofit group that ships them to African countries.

Officials tell Minnesota Public Radio that the donation from Capstone is the largest that Books for Africa has received in several years.

Capstone says the donation is worth $5 million. The donation will be shipped to the Books for Africa warehouse in St. Paul starting on Wednesday before being packaged and sent to Africa.

The donation is Capstone's third major gift to the nonprofit group in less than two years.

Books for Africa has shipped more than 23 million books to 45 countries since 1988. Founder Tom Warth started the organization after a vacation to Uganda when he found empty village libraries and grade schools with few books.

(© Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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