When First Book was invited to attend the SELF Magazine event in New York City saluting Women Doing Good, I thought “how great, what fun! I get to put on my favorite pair of stilettos (well, my only pair) and dust off my cocktail dress (it’s actually never been worn), all while being in the big city, what could be better than that?” But when I found out that De Ross, one of First Book’s very own volunteers, was being honored, suddenly the glitz and glamour were just icing on the cake.

Our friend De Ross was honored by SELF Magazine and their partners, Maybelline makeup and Kashi foods, for her incredible dedication to bringing new books back to her town following Hurricane Katrina. Thousands of women were nominated for doing great things in their communities, but only three were chosen by SELF Magazine.  They were treated to an afternoon at a spa in New York, given a makeover and a new outfit for the big night of cocktails, dinner and mingling at Top of the Rock restaurant at Rockefeller Plaza.

As you may recall, immediately following Hurricane Katrina’s landfall in 2005, First Book launched the Book Relief initiative: a commitment to bring 5 million new books to the devastated Gulf Coast region.  I can honestly say that without De Ross, this initiative would not have been possible.

In the months following the catastrophic storm, De, a resident of Bay St. Louis, a beautiful coastal town in Mississippi, took in two things with care and compassion: evacuees and new books from First Book.

Flood waters had only ruined the first floor of her home leaving the second floor habitable, which made her house a shining beacon amongst almost complete destruction.  Day after day, shipment after shipment, De took in books that we sent her, storing them in her kitchen, attic, and every spare closet, before loading them up in her car to take to shelters, soup kitchens, FEMA stations and still-standing churches.  She single-handedly delivered over 30,000 new books in those months and years following Katrina.  She is now fondly called the “Book Fairy” in her hometown, and rightfully so.

As I heard our president Kyle Zimmer proudly introduce De and tell the room her incredible story, I couldn’t help but get choked up thinking of the lives De has changed because of her dedication.  She brought stories to children who had nothing, allowing them and their families the chance to imagine life beyond the shelters and chaos.  Her commitment to bringing stories to children who need them the most makes me so proud to call De a friend, and I know we at First Book are honored to have her as part of our family.