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Posts in the Around the First Book Office Category
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21 days and counting…
June 24th, 2008
Mitali C.
Leave a Comment »About 2 ½ months ago I was running around Turner Field in Atlanta, GA gearing up for Opening Day of the 2008 Braves season. I was the Entertainment Manager in charge of all the “hoopla” at home games and special events (i.e. flyovers, fireworks, in game promotions, drum line performances, concerts, interactive games, celebrity & mascot appearances and more). Although I had the pleasure of creating smiles at baseball games there was some sort of disconnect between me, my audience and my job. After my most recent volunteer trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia (personal vacation) working with the Life & Hope Association I realized the skills I used in the entertainment industry can be utilized for an even greater purpose in the nonprofit sector. Fast forward a few months later, after many hours googling the “next greatest job in the whole wide world,” and I was ready to walk away from everything that I knew that was normal to pursue my next great adventure at First Book.
On June 2, I stepped foot into First Book headquarters as a full time employee in a mere 21 days I’ve already helped get over 238,000 books into the hands of children from low-income families! (more…)
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First Book Turns Sweet Sixteen!
May 19th, 2008
Erin T.
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Do you remember your “sweet sixteen”? The gifts, the cake, the visit to the DMV with nervous parents, the co-ed parties…
Today First Book celebrates our 16th Birthday, and the distribution of our 60 millionth book! The day has been much calmer than Samantha Baker’s adventures in Sixteen Candles and thankfully, there was no test of the proper stopping distance for railroad tracks, but we did take a little time out to celebrate and look towards our future.
Thank you to everyone who has helped First Book reach this wonderful milestone. May the next year and 10 million books be just as sweet!
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May Blog Contest
May 9th, 2008
Katie B.
Leave a Comment »Do you ever have those “lightbulb” moments when you come up with a great new idea? Or do catchy, creative sayings just seems to roll off your tongue? Or both? If so, then we need your help in brainstorming a new name for the First Book Blog!
We are looking for a fresh, new name for our blog that represents what First Book is all about – working hard and having fun to provide more books to the kids who need them most.
Here’s how it works:
Everyone who submits a suggestion for our new name will be entered into a random drawing to win this month’s prize. If we choose your suggestion for our new blog name, you will also win a prize! This month’s winner(s) will receive their choice of a First Book t-shirt or an autographed copy of Joshua Prince’s book I Saw An Ant on the Railroad Track.The rules are as follows:
- You must email your suggestion for our new name to blog@firstbook.org.
- The winner will be selected at random from among all the the suggestions submitted and will be given your choice of prize and featured on the Blog. By submitting your answer, you give First Book permission to contact you via email and highlight your name on our Web site, if you are selected as the winner.
- Deadline for entries is: Monday, May 19th at 12:00 midnight ET.
- The winner will be announced no later than Friday, May 23rd.Let the brainstorming begin!
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Syracuse or Bust
May 2nd, 2008
Rachael V.
2 Comments »“Have you been half asleep?
And have you heard voices?
I’ve heard them calling my name.
Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailors?
The voice might be one and the same
I’ve heard it too many times to ignore it
It’s something that I’m s’posed to be…
Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection,
The lovers, the dreamers, and me.”
- Kermit the FrogAlthough I’m not quite as eloquent as my small green hero quoted above, I wanted to take a minute today to tell you that I, too, have heard a voice calling my name. I am concluding my tenure of nearly four years at First Book to pursue a Master’s Degree in Public Administration in Syracuse, New York.
There is something about seeing unbridled inspiration on a daily basis - in First Book Recipient Groups, volunteers, corporate heroes and education advocates - that has inspired me to choose to pursue a graduate degree in a field where I can continue my passion for changing the world.
From Los Angeles, Minneapolis and New York, to Keene, Bernice and Norwalk - and, quite literally, everywhere in between - I have had the pleasure and joy of working at book distributions, celebrating preschool graduations, speaking at conferences, visiting food banks, enjoying meals with volunteers, attending First Book Advisory Board meetings, giving books to kids and truly enjoying the inspiration of compassionate heroes at every juncture!
So to all of you I say, thank you. Until soon!
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A post from Ken, the Intern
April 30th, 2008
Ken G.
Leave a Comment »It was a week before I was set to leave for DC that I finally learned of my internship placement at First Book. I had never heard of First Book before but maintained the belief that everything would work out…it did.
Placed in the communication department to coincide with my major, I was pleasantly surprised when I was given several substantive projects and assignments to work on instead of tedious busy work. There have been several occasions where I have applied lessons and skills from college to the project I was working on. Working closely with other First Book staff members, I spend my days putting together spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, doing online research, sending out dozens of e-mails and attending book distribution events.
Yesterday marked the half way point of my time here in DC and I cannot believe how fast the time has gone by! It should really be no surprise though, considering how much fun I am having. It really helps that First Book is composed of the friendliest staff in DC, which makes coming to work a pleasure. Everyone here is dedicated to getting books to kids and it is truly an amazing feeling knowing you are apart of this wonderful cause.
I cannot recommend First Book enough. They have helped me develop so many skills and gain tons of insights and experiences that I will be able to apply in my future career. This is the perfect place for anyone interested in public policy or just looking for a rewarding experience and I cannot thank the First Book staff enough for making me feel apart of the family.
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First Book Blog contest!
February 12th, 2008
Katie B.
1 Comment »Think you know all there is to know about First Book and read our blog regularly? If your answer is yes, then get excited - we have a contest for you!
First Book is excited to announce our first of several blog contests that we will host throughout the year.
Here’s how it works: find the correct answers to the questions on the First Book Blog and you’ll be entered into a drawing to win a special prize. This month’s winner will receive their choice of a First Book t-shirt or a READ tote bag.
The rules are as follows:
- You must email the answers to the following 3 questions to blog@firstbook.org.
- The winner will be selected at random from among all the correct entries and will be given the prize and featured on the Blog. By submitting your answer, you give First Book permission to contact you via email and highlight your name on our Web site, if you are selected as the winner.
- Deadline for entries is: Friday, February 22nd at 9 a.m.
- The winner will be announced no later than Monday, February 25th.Ready? On your mark, get set, go! Good luck!
Contest questions
1. What First Book partner sponsors National Literacy Action Week?
2. What special edition book sold out on the First Book Marketplace?
3. How did the winner of the Cheerios Spoonful of Stories Contest come up with her book idea?
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A First Book staffer looks back…
January 10th, 2008
Andrea T.
7 Comments »
Tomorrow I am leaving my job here at First Book, as well as my wonderful Advisory Board volunteers in the states of WA, ND, SD, GA and KY, to pursue a teaching career. Since I started working at First Book a few months before the blog was born, I thought I would take a moment to look back at some of my favorite posts. -
Halloween First Book Style!
November 1st, 2007
Erin T.
Leave a Comment »Where can you find a sailor, the god of thunder, Mrs. Brady dressed for the town, and a contestant on the Price is Right? At First Book’s annual Halloween outing to Ben’s Chili Bowl, of course! In its third year, First Book staff showed off their creativity with their costume-clad outing to the historic DC landmark. Among piles of chili cheese fries, First Book showed how eclectic, fun, and spirited the team that gives books to kids is. The real question is, “what to be next year?”
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A Day in the Life of a First Book Intern…
October 11th, 2007
Eli E.
1 Comment »As a freshman at American University, I was given the opportunity to have an internship fall semester. Out of the 10+ businesses and organizations I met with, I chose First Book. Waking up at 7am each Wednesday and Thursday is not easy for a college student, but working with First Book makes it worthwhile.
Working with the corporate team, I do online research on companies, enter data in spreadsheets, call groups who receive books, sit in on some meetings, and send lots of emails. My favorite aspects of working here at First book include working as part of the Viral Team in our web-based initiatives such as Facebook and MySpace, and interacting with the corporate team in outreach and research.
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Farewell Clarissa!
September 7th, 2007
Erin T.
2 Comments »Today marks a sad day for the First Book Blog! Clarissa is leaving First Book, and with it takes a vast amount of technical support and leadership that has built the site this last year and a half.
For many of the contributors to this site, this was our first experience with the blog world and Clarissa took it in stride. She patiently explained to me and many of the staff how to write posts, comment appropriately, and about the community of blogging. She would edit ramblings from the road into stories to share, and was stellar at thinking of new ideas for us to write about.
Clarissa is leaving First Book, no doubt to do amazing work for other great causes, but we hope she’ll keep in touch and continue to read the First Book Blog! We wish her the very best!
