Posts in category General

Young Diplomat Killed While Bringing Books to Kids

Apr11
2013 18 Comments Brian Minter Written by Brian Minter

Yesterday morning, Andrew Meyer, the operations manager for the First Book Marketplace, sent an email to the First Book staff sharing his thoughts about Anne Smedinghoff, a young foreign service officer killed in Afghanistan while bringing books to children in need.

I was touched by Andrew’s email, and asked him if I could share it on the First Book blog.

Young Diplomat Killed Bringing New Books to Kids in Need

Anne Smedinghoff (Photo from washingtonpost.com)

Many of you probably heard that six Americans were killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan this past Saturday. It seems that we have something in common with at least one of them: Anne Smedinghoff, a 25-year-old foreign service officer from Chicago. Anne was killed while delivering textbooks to children at a school.

Certainly we’re far from the chaos of Afghanistan, but I can’t help but feel a kinship with this young woman. I know as well as anyone that this business — this business of doing good — can be extremely challenging: long hours, increasing demand, lower salaries, uncertain funding sources, etc.

But never forget that we are all doing our part to increase knowledge and level the playing field. We are contributing to a movement that will have an impact centuries from now.

I’ve had a lot of time to reflect on life since my wife’s passing back in September and I know that when my time comes I hope to be comforted by the fact that I’ve done my part to make the world just a little bit better.

Posted in Book Distributions, Education, Guest Blog Posts, Literacy - Tagged , , , ,

A Prescription For Success

Sep21
2012 Gina Rullo Written by Gina Rullo

Today’s guest blog post is an excerpt from avid reader Jacquelyn Adams. She is currently in medical school where she is pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor. Education has always been an important issue for Jacquelyn. She lends her support to this issue by raising money for First Book through a virtual book drive she created to share her love of reading.

Reading has been an enormous part of my life for as long as I can remember. I used to get sent to the principal’s office in third grade for leaving my desk to hide in the corner of the room and finish my latest Box Car Children Mystery. Without the novels of my childhood, I have no idea what my life would be like. I grew up in a world of stories, adventures, romances, and mythical creatures. It is why I am who I am today.First Book supporter Jacquelyn Adams raises money through a virtual book drive

Last semester, I heard a story that brought me to tears. One of the surgeons I was shadowing was talking about a story he saw online. It was about a program called First Book that had come to southern West Virginia and was helping provide books to children in need. He said that over half of the middle schoolers in that area had never owned their own book. I was blown away.

By seventh grade, I had multiple bookshelves filled to the brim and more overdue library books than a thesis student. How could a seventh grader not far from my front door not own a single book? I asked him as much, and he said “That is why you are in medical school and they are struggling to graduate high school.”

Every time I think about this conversation, I feel guilt and determination. Every child deserves the joy of reading. Every child deserves the chance to live in a world of stories, adventures, romances, and mythical creatures. Every child deserves his or her own first book. That is why I am starting this fundraising page. I hope you all can help, and I hope you will choose to get involved with First Book.

Jacquelyn aimed to raise $200 through a virtual book drive and has already succeeded in reaching her goal. Just like Jacquelyn, you or anyone you know can create a virtual book drive to support First Book in an effort to get books to children in need.

 

Posted in Books & Reading, First Book Supporters, Guest Blog Posts, Literacy, Philanthropy, Success Stories, Virtual Book Drives - Tagged , , , , , ,

It’s Back to School Week!

Aug29
2011 Rochee Jeffrey Written by Rochee Jeffrey

We had an awesome summer and we hope you did too! The highlight of our summer was our record-breaking distribution of two million books throughout the country in preparation for the new school year. Two million books sounds like a huge number, and it is, but there are millions of children who still have no books of their own.  It is those children who are on our minds as students head back to school this week.

We want to get brand-new books in these children’s hands, but we need your help. If you know of any programs or schools that serve children in need, tell them to sign up with First Book.

Eligible programs receive access to the First Book Marketplace, offering new books at 50 to 90 percent off retail prices. And if schools or programs serve a higher proportion of children in need — 80 percent or more — then those schools or programs may also be eligible for free books through the First Book National Book Bank and book grants through First Book’s local Advisory Boards. It’s really that simple.

Help get more books into more children’s hands! Spread the word. http://www.firstbook.org/receive-books

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A Day On, Not A Day Off

Jan14
2011 Brian Minter Written by Brian Minter

First Book Celebrates MLK Day of Service

Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’
– Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Do you have any volunteer or community service plans for Martin Luther King Day?

If so, share them with us in the comments section below.

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Happy Holidays from First Book

Dec24
2010 Brian Minter Written by Brian Minter

We have been offering some holiday shopping suggestions for you on our blog this week. But it’s Christmas Eve, and we are all out of gift ideas. If you are considering one last trip to the mall, take a moment and ask yourself: Do my friends and family need more stuff? They probably don’t. Stay inside and watch ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ with your cousins.

If you are still in the gift-giving spirit, though, you can always contribute to First Book. We’ve been fortunate this holiday season (thanks in no small part to Nicholas Kristof’s recent column), but we can always use your help with our mission of getting brand-new books into the hands of kids from low-income communities. And every dollar donated through the end of the year will be matched with an extra book from our generous publishing partners.

Happy holidays from your friends at First Book! We hope you get a good book this Christmas.

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The Gifts of Hope

Dec21
2010 Brian Minter Written by Brian Minter

We were happy to see that Nicholas Kristof mentioned First Book in his Sunday New York Times column on charitable organizations that do important and innovative work but don’t always get a lot of attention.

What a difference it makes when an authoritative voice that people trust speaks on your behalf! We have had an astounding number of people make donations to First Book in the two days since the column was published. We’re grateful to Mr. Kristof for using his column to recognize the work that we do, and we’re even more grateful to all of those who were moved to contribute.

The column reminds us of how many worthwhile charitable organizations there are out there – far too many to recognize, much less support. Those of us at First Book are doing our part, and we know all of you are doing yours – whether you’re helping us with our work, or spending your time and money on other issues that are near and dear to your heart.

In his column, Mr. Kristof writes: “One of the paradoxes of living in a wealthy country is that we accumulate tremendous purchasing power, yet it’s harder and harder for us to give friends and family presents that are meaningful.” A donation in someone’s name can be more significant than a CD or pair of gloves, and you and a loved one volunteering your time together can be the most meaningful gift of all.

So what can you do to help First Book in our mission to get books into the hands of kids in low-income communities all over the country?

  • Make a donation so we can distribute more books. Every $2 we receive pays for a brand-new book that goes to a child in need.
  • Find a classroom or after-school program in your community that is registered with First Book and hold a local fund-raiser to provide them with a grant they can use to buy discounted books through our program.
  • Get in touch with a local program that serves kids from low-income families that could benefit from access to First Book and our great resources and help them get registered. It’s free and simple to do.

At First Book, we like to say that we add rocket fuel to all the local programs that do such important and inspiring work. We could use your help to do even more.

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Thank You Thursday

Nov11
2010 Written by Becky H.

This week’s thank you is brought to you by the preschoolers at Kipapa Elementary.

Posted in Literacy - Tagged ,

Celebrate Native American Heritage Month!

Nov02
2010 Written by Marie Madsen

November is Native American Heritage Month. This year’s theme is “Pride in Our Heritage. Honor to Our Ancestors.”

Although the first “American Indian Day” was celebrated in May 1916 in New York, a month-long recognition of Native Americans did not happen until 1990. That year, President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November as National American Indian Heritage Month, to celebrate the heritage, history, art and traditions of our ancestors.

Use the opportunity to recognize the significant contributions the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the U.S. Celebrate our heritage and our ancestors by:

Pocahontas: Princess of the New World

By Kathleen Krull and David Diaz

Sports Heroes and Legends: Jim Thorpe

By Carrie Golus

Posted in Marketplace - Tagged , ,

First Book on Fox News

Oct22
2010 Written by Becky H.

Check out FOX News’ recent report on First Book and Martha’s Table, the soup kitchen where our president and CEO, Kyle Zimmer, first realized the incredible need for books in low-income communities.  The report focuses on how these two organizations are navigating the nonprofit world and continuing to make a difference despite a significant decline in charitable donations.

Read the full report at: http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/money/charitable-donations-at-all-time-low-101810

Posted in Social Entrepreneurship - Tagged , ,

Thank You Thursday

Oct14
2010 Written by Becky H.

This week’s thank you is brought to you by the  students at Highlands Elementary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania who received books through First Book’s partnership with Target.

First Book and Target have come together to place up to two million new books into the hands of children across the country.  Through Target Read With MeSM parents and caring adults can pledge to read with a child by visiting www.target.com/reading or by texting READ to TARGET (827438). Once one million pledges have been received, Target and First Book will distribute a total of two million books across the country.

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