-
You are currently browsing the First Book Blog weblog archives for April, 2006.
Archive for April 2006
-
Mobile AL 2006
April 18th, 2006
Dave M.
1 Comment »I just wanted to take a chance to say thank you to all of our volunteers who helped us at our Mobile Alabama distribution last week. Everything about the distribution went well and we have you guys and gals to thank for it. We recieved this thank you shortly after we returned home:
Please let me take this time to thank ou and every one responsible for the donation of books. These books will be used to restore some sense of normalcy in the lives of many children on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Reading is one of the most important things we can teach our children to do and with your donation we will be able to put these books in the hands of many children. God Bless you and your work and again, thanks!
Tom M.
Some more info and a few pictures after the the jump.
-
Coffee Wisdom
April 18th, 2006
Nicole T.
3 Comments »Over the years I’ve seen many interesting things being advertised on my morning coffee cup. I have to admit that most of the time I’m not quite awake enough to really pay attention. A friend introduced me to the Starbucks’ “The Way I See It” quotes when she shared a few she thought were noteworthy in her annual Christmas letter. Yesterday I saw the following bit of wisdom peeking out from under the sleeve on my afternoon pick-me-up cup of Starbucks:
The Way I See It #103
For all those parents who wonder,
How do I get my kids to read? –
here’s a simple, earthshaking
notion: give them a book. For gosh
sakes, give them a couple books.–James Patterson
I heard that Mr. Patterson may be participating in our blog from Book Expo America. I’m looking forward to hearing more from him! I also plan to pay more attention to my morning cup of coffee, you never know what you’ll find.
-
Travel and Books
April 13th, 2006
Erin T.
3 Comments »Saint Augustine once said that “life is a book, and those who have not traveled have read only the first page.” Perhaps it is fitting then, that the staff of First Book is so well read. We are a national organization, which is, shockingly, national! How many other organizations can speak of Bernice, Louisiana, Dubois, Idaho, or even Norwalk, Ohio with the same knowledge as New York City, Chicago or LA? Who else has Lynda who knows the baggage handler at the Gulfport airport, or a president who has actually met Big Bird? Who can keep track of the places we have collectively gone, and the places that we are heading to shortly? I wonder though, as we run to catch the next flight, make the next contact, distribute the next quarter million books, how often do we consider how these travels influence, educate, and inspire us? We see the work we have done in these communities from coast to coast, giving books to kids, but do we ever take the time to consider the pages of our own books filling with the lessons from our travels? It is a question to consider, but one thing is for sure, the story is a page-turner and chapters and chapters have yet to be written.
Happy Travels!
-
Noggin and Us
April 13th, 2006
Peaches Embarcadero
1 Comment »The corporate team was ready for a DYNOmite speed read event at Borders in NYC hosted by Noggin network as a launch for their new show Pinky Dinky Doo. Guess who was there? Our utter champion, the glam Joan Allen and the savior of the Western world, Jon Stewart. Photos flashed, video whirred, shameless silent tasteful pleas to join our team occurred. Over 127,000 books were generated for kids in need. Borders/Noggin/First Book - a happy team.
-
Life is Good
April 13th, 2006
Peaches Embarcadero
1 Comment »The cutest thing I’ve seen today - so far that is - was at lunchtime down at the duck pond. A middle-aged man settled in on the steps in front of the pond with his book in his hands and the sun at his back, ready for a fulfilling lunchtime break. He was reading….? The Power of Positive Thinking. Of all things, that old chestnut. I love these signs that people want to feel better, understand better, improve their lives and when better to feel that and do something about it than on a lovely spring day. Life is good.
-
A Great Thank You
April 13th, 2006
Gerard N.
2 Comments »Check out this thank you note sent by Becky S. of one of our Recipient Groups, Dinner and a Book in Memphis, TN. Becky, who is a student at Rhodes College used a $500 gift card that she received as part of First Book and Borders Group’s holiday campaign to buy books for the children in her program and has this to say about how her grant worked out:
Dear First Book,
You all rock my face off! I am a senior urban studies major and direct a family literacy program in partnership with a local church in one of the most impoverished neighborhoods in Memphis. My goal was to give each child a book every week to take home - now we are able to let them take home a new library every week.
Thank you!
Becky S.This is just one of many great thank you notes that we’ve received as a result of First Book’s partnership with Borders. Thank you Becky and the rest of our Recipient Groups for letting us know how you’re using the books and keeping us in touch with the reality of what we do every day!
-GN