[Columbia, SC] - On December 9, in an expansion of its Dreamnight at the Zoo partnership with Palmetto Health Children's Hospital (PHCH), Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is offering Midlands residents a way to give back to the community while experiencing Lights Before Christmas.

"Palmetto Health Children's Hospital is just a great organization and one that I support both personally and professionally," said Satch Krantz, executive director of Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. "They do a great job with Reach Out and Read, a program that emphasizes pediatric literacy. The program provides the healthcare community with books and literacy intervention materials that they can distribute to families, many of whom live in poverty."

PHCH's Reach Out and Read program will be outside Riverbanks Zoo's gates on Friday night collecting new and slightly used children's books from Lights visitors. Guests who make a book donation will receive a voucher they can exchange at the ticket booth for one free child's admission ticket to Lights Before Christmas, good for December 9 only.

Each June, Riverbanks hosts DreamNight at the Zoo, a private night for PHCH's chronically ill kids to get to enjoy a one-of-a-kind visit to the Zoo. DreamNight is an international movement with 80 zoos participating from all over the world, each one opening its gates late for sick children and their families on the first Friday night in June. Riverbanks' 2006 DreamNight at the Zoo will be held on June 2.

Book donations for Riverbanks Reach Out and Read Night will be accepted during Lights Before Christmas' regular hours from 6:00 to 9:00pm. Guests can enjoy a snowfall every night and over half a million twinkling lights and 350 lights displays throughout the entire Zoo. Taking photos with Santa at Riverbanks' Holiday Village, roasting marshmallows at the Jingle Bell Bonfire, and enjoying a cup of hot cocoa in Palmetto Plaza make a holiday visit complete. Society members receive one free visit and general admission is $5 for children and $7 for adults. Santa's Polar Blast tickets are an additional $3. Lights Before Christmas tickets can be purchased in advance online at www.riverbanks.org, by calling 803.779.8717 or at the Zoo gate.