Community Advantage Cards that fight Illiteracy While Promoting Local Business?

Now here's a great idea coming out of Green Bay, Wisconsin. 

Literacy Partners have teamed up with the County's "Buy Local Initiative, introducing a Community Advantage Card.   The card costs $10 but will promote literacy programs in the county while qualify consumers to receive discounts at over 25 local merchants in the county. 

This is truly a "match made in heaven", especially if the literacy programs can figure out a way to couple economics lessons with the reading programs.  Almost as important as knowing how to read, is knowing how important it is to keep your hard earned dollars out of Wal Mart's coffers and in your community.
In ignorance I used to laugh at people I saw on television fighting to keep big box store out of their community.  I thought they were ignorant "tree huggers" who were enemies of the economy.  In reality I was the ignorant one.  I had no idea that these national chains were nothing short of imperial colonists pulling dollars out healthy local economies much the same way European kings and queens did 200 years ago.

Being "enlightened" is a double edged sword.  The good news, is I no longer contribute to the problem, the bad new is, I have this unexplainable urge to hug a tree!

PayLessFirst is a local business with a national vision. We seek to help local merchants to compete with big box stores, itinerant retailers, and online competitors by educating consumers on the benefits of “buying local”.  We also promote and maintain an online directory of independently-owned, local businesses for the encouragement & convenience of conscientious shopping.  To add your business to our national directory for free, click here.