NTA and Tourism Cares will offer a charitable event at this year's NTA Annual Convention. Delegates will have an opportunity to give back to the host city through the NTA and Tourism Cares Give Back to Pittsburgh event. The event aims to bring the world of travel to children and families in the Pittsburgh area through books while improving literacy.

"This rewarding project resulted from the hard work of the NTA Charitable Project Task Force," said NTA Chairman and CEO Bob Hoelscher, CTP. "NTA extends our deep appreciation to this task force as well as to Tourism Cares, for giving NTA members this unique opportunity to leave a legacy to our host community who will be giving so much to us as we enjoy a week of their hospitality."

The NTA and Tourism Cares Give Back to Pittsburgh event will launch Friday, Nov. 14, and continue throughout the Convention week. Books Across Pittsburgh, a local literacy campaign run by Pittsburgh Cares, will be coordinating a new and gently used book drive with regional school districts, higher education institutions and businesses. NTA volunteers will sort and wrap books collected, build and decorate bookcases and read travel stories to local children. At the end of the week, NTA volunteers will deliver the finished products throughout the community.

"This project embodies what Tourism Cares is all about," said Bruce Beckham, executive director of Tourism Cares. "The NTA and Tourism Cares Give Back to Pittsburgh event mobilizes the travel and tourism industry desire to advance the preservation of the travel experience for future generations."

NTA members also will work with Pittsburgh Cares during the Convention to help with additional book sorting, book wrapping and assist in completing a children's literacy mural. Prior to the Convention, Pittsburgh Cares will be collecting books to donate, particularly travel-related books.