A lot has happened at First Book in the past year, since Rachael wrote our first blog post about a book distribution in Bernice, LA.

Here are some of the highlights of the past year:

- We attended BookExpo America, where we launched a national literacy awareness campaign, Literacy and Justice for All. BEA attendees voted for the state to win a 50,000 book distribution. The winner — Louisiana!

- We distributed books for kids in need in cities across the country, like Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Long Beach, San Antonio, Boise, and New Orleans.

- Borders National Benefit Day raised more than $270,000 for First Book.

- We announced our very first First Book Marketplace Special Edition, Playing Loteria/El juego de Loteria

- First Book was named a winner of Fast Company Magazine and Monitor Group’s Social Capitalist Award, and our president Kyle Zimmer was named Outstanding Social Entrepreneur of the Year in the United States by the Schwab Foundation.

- Book Relief continued to provide new books to the children and families affected by the 2005 hurricanes and to organizations rebuilding the Gulf Coast.

- We launched our first Advisory Board websites, so you can find out what First Book is doing in your community.

- We announced the arrival of First Book University, a training program for First Book volunteers.

- The Borders Holiday Campaign raised more than $780,000 for First Book.

- And we celebrated the Cat in the Hat’s 50th birthday. Speaking of which, don’t forget to send the Cat a birthday card. Random House will donate one book to First Book for every card it receives — up to TWO MILLION books!

As you can see, we’ve been pretty busy in the past year. But keep reading, because we promise even more excitement in the year to come!