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Posts in the Philanthropy Category
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More Days to Give! eBay Campaign is Extended
June 9th, 2008
Diane N.
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GOOD NEWS! First Book’s campaign with eBay Foundation has been extended and will now continue through June 30.
Each time you donate through eBay’s Community Gives — even as little as $1 — eBay Foundation will give $1 too, in order to help us get cartons of new books to kids who desperately need them.
Only 21 days remain: please help us make the most of them! Your generosity will support our ambitious effort to supply tens of thousands of community-based programs across the country with ongoing access to new books.
Thanks so much for your support!
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Natural Skincare Brings New Books to Kids!
June 6th, 2008
Diane N.
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We are delighted to announce that Stuff for Sprouts — a new natural line of skincare for children — is teaming up with First Book to give new books to the kids who need them most. 2% of all online sales at www.stuff4sprouts.com will be donated to First Book.Launched in September 2007, Stuff for Sprouts features exclusive formulas developed by the owner of the company, Kristen Bassick, to treat the persistent dry skin of her own children, or “sprouts” as she likes to call them. Kristen is so sure that her stuff is great that she offers a money back guarantee.
All products are free of parabens, nut oils, animal products, soy, artificial colors, or chemical fillers. The company also offers parents phthalate-free product choices. Stuff for Sprouts does not do any animal testing and always promises to produce products with “Nothing weird. Nothing gross. Just good stuff for dry skin.”
Upon checking out, customers are also being encouraged to add an additional $1 contribution to First Book to their purchase.
“We are excited about this opportunity to support such a great organization,” said Kristen Bassick, creator of Stuff for Sprouts. “My children are huge readers and love the idea of helping other kids gain access to books!”
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There’s a Giant in the library!
May 29th, 2008
Mary Beth F.
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Last Friday, First Book joined Super Bowl XLII Champion and New York Giants defensive end Justin Tuck at a reading event at Central Elementary School in Rockford, AL. Tuck, a native of Rockford, was on hand to celebrate the launch of Tuck’s R.U.S.H. for Literacy initiative. The program aspires to encourage children to READ, UNDERSTAND, SUCCEED, and HOPE as they continue to nurture literacy in their lives.Working with the Central Alabama Community Foundation and the Horseshoe
Bend Regional Library, Tuck teamed up with First Book to donate 4,500 new books to support the 2008 bookmobile program, which will visit various Coosa County locations this summer. Tuck will continue his commitment through the R.U.S.H. for Literacy program throughout the New York City metro area when the 2008 season kicks off this fall. -
Pi Phi celebrates their 141st year with new books
April 28th, 2008
Katie B.
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First Book is proud to celebrate the joy of reading with the incredible women of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity. Today marks the Fraternity’s 141st year and another milestone in the Fraternity’s long history of supporting literacy.On April 28, 1867, 12 women joined together to form a secret college society for women at Monmouth College in Monmouth, IL, not knowing what the future would hold. More than 140 years later, those 12 women have touched the lives of over 236,000 members across North America. Pi Beta Phi was the first national secret college society of women to be modeled after the Greek-letter fraternities of men. At a time when few women were admitted to colleges and universities, Pi Beta Phi created a feeling of unity among pioneering women.
To honor this anniversary, First Book and Pi Beta Phi distributed 250,000 brand-new books to children in need across the country.
In addition, Pi Beta Phi and First Book hosted two reading party events in celebration of Founders’ Day in Dallas and Champaign, Illinois. Dallas area Pi Beta Phi alumnae and collegians and members of the University of Illinois chapter of Pi Beta Phi celebrated the donation of brand-new books by decorating bookplates and reading with local children. Each child participating received two new books to take home.
Pi Phi has a long legacy of supporting literacy and we applaud their renewed commitment to literacy for children across the country. Happy Birthday Pi Beta Phi!
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First Book President Kyle Zimmer attends the World Economic Forum
February 28th, 2008
Diane N.
Leave a Comment »In December 2006 First Book president and co-founder Kyle Zimmer was named Social Entrepreneur of the Year in the United States by the international Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. She concluded her year with a trip to Davos, Switzerland for the annual World Economic Forum last month. Here, Kyle writes about the three-day Summit for Social Entrepreneurs in Zurich preceding the Forum.
“A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to travel to Switzerland to attend the Schwab Foundation’s annual Summit for Social Entrepreneurs as well as the World Economic Forum.
At both gatherings, I had the honor to hear some of the brightest individuals on the planet speak about how they are tackling some of the world’s largest social problems. I was inspired by their stories. There are too many to list them all, but to give you a few examples:
In Singapore, Jack Sim has made sanitation issues and public toilets his mission to help save the lives of millions of children each year. In Chile, Mary Anne Muller Prieto has founded a school that focuses on the most troubled youth. Students graduate with a technical degree in farming and organic agriculture and, in the process, learn the life and leadership skills to turn their lives around.
I was humbled to find myself in the company of these individuals – true heroes working at great risk and sacrifice not only to themselves but also to their families. They are moving mountains in the face of tremendous opposition, which makes me believe that here in the most open society in the world, we too, can solve the literacy crisis plaguing our nation.
As we look ahead, First Book is poised for significant growth in our capacity to end illiteracy. We stand firm in our commitment to reach the most disadvantaged children and we are thankful for your continued help as we speed ahead.”
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Social Capitalists, Please Take Your Seats
January 25th, 2008
Mary Beth F.
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I was honored to have the opportunity to represent First Book at this year’s Social Capitalist Awards dinner hosted by Fast Company magazine and Monitor Group.This year’s event was hosted in Washington, DC – a very convenient locale for many of the evening’s honorees – and brought together some of the best minds working today in the field of social enterprise. It was a thrill to be representing First Book, one of just ten organizations to have received this honor for five consecutive years.
To look around the room was truly awe-inspiring — the individuals in the room have directed their entrepreneurial vision towards solving some of the world’s greatest ills, and the reality is — it’s working. Organizations such as Accion International, College Summit and Endeavor Global are creating models to disrupt the cycle of poverty. Those actions have the ability not only to change the lives of the individuals they serve, but the society in which we all live. Let me tell you, there are worse ways to spend an evening than celebrating these incredible individuals and organizations.
One of the greatest thrills for me was getting the opportunity to meet Fast Company contributor, Dan Heath. I seized the moment to tell him how thought-proving and entertaining I found his article “The Inevitability Of $300 Socks.” I’d encourage you to take a moment to read the article at FastCompany.com and let me know your thoughts.
To learn more about the Social Capitalist Awards and the incredible individuals with whom I got to spend an evening, please visit Fast Company’s Web site.
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Resolve to spread the joy of reading this year!
January 18th, 2008
Mary Beth F.
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To kick off 2008, First Book is proud to announce that for every e-card viewed from The Literacy Site, one new book will be donated to a child in need.Here’s how it works: You send an e-card from The Literacy Site.com. When your friend views your personalized e-card, First Book will provide a new book for a child. You can even send a special greeting to several friends; every person who views your card will give a book!
This gift is possible thanks to the generous support of Pi Beta Phi. So when you send an e-card greeting or a birthday wish, you’re doing more than just saying hello– you’re helping to give the gift of literacy.
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It’s not too late to join First Book in the Facebook Giving Challenge
January 15th, 2008
Rachel C.
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First Book needs your help in Facebook’s Causes Giving Challenge going on now through January 31. The nonprofit that inspires the most donors will be rewarded an additional $50,000 from the Case Foundation. Help us prove that philanthropy can be for everyone and get more books to kids in need. Visit our cause, Feed a Hungry Mind with Books, to learn more.
There are only 16 days left - so be sure to get involved today!
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Make ending illiteracy your resolution in 2008
January 2nd, 2008
Rachel C.
Leave a Comment »What did you spend $10 on in 2007? Movie tickets, lattes, dry cleaning?
What can $10 do in 2008? Help put an end to illiteracy.
First Book is working tirelessly each day to resolve the illiteracy crisis by bringing beautiful, new books to the most economically disadvantaged children in communities nationwide. And we are making a difference , as Madison, a third-grader who received books from First Book, tells us: “Thank you for the awesome books. We lost all of ours in Hurricane Katrina. I love reading books. Books take me places where I haven’t been before.”
Get started on your 2008 good works early, and help us prove that everyone has the power to help end illiteracy in our lifetime. The Case Foundation, in partnership with Facebook, is challenging nonprofits to put social networking sites to charitable use. The cause that inspires the most donors wins an additional $50,000.
Join our cause and make a difference for a child in need. The challenge is going on now and runs until January 31.
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Everyone a Philanthropist
December 18th, 2007
Diane N.
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Can Facebook be used for the greater good?That’s what the Case Foundation is out to discover. Last Thursday marked the launch of their Giving Challenge in partnership with Causes on Facebook — an intriguing experiment that will test the impact of so-called “viral philanthropy.”
The challenge is for nonprofits large and small to inspire the highest number of online donors over a 50-day period (now through January 31) for a chance to win an additional $50,000. Significantly, the emphasis is not on the total amount raised by each nonprofit, but on the number of donors engaged. The shift reflects a broad and growing interest in engaging not only those wealthier individuals traditionally engaged in philanthropy, but a wider audience at the grassroots level as well.
In an interview in the New York Times, Jean Case, co-founder of the Case Foundation, explains:
“Philanthropy shouldn’t be defined as a bunch of rich people writing big checks. Small amounts of money given by large numbers of individuals can be combined to do great things.”
At First Book, we couldn’t agree more. Every $10 — the minimum donation in the Facebook-hosted challenge — donated to First Book places four brand new books into the hands of a child in need, sparking a love of reading. What better proof that even the smallest contributions can make a tangible, even life-changing, impact?
Take a look: visit Facebook and help us show that everyone has the power to make a difference.
