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Posts in the Social Entrepreneurship Category
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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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First Book Goes to Yale
April 8th, 2008
Zanna G.
Leave a Comment »In 2005 the First Book Marketplace was named a Grand Prize winner of the Yale School of Management - Goldman Sachs Foundation Partnership on Nonprofit Ventures’ National Business Plan Competition for Nonprofit Organizations.
Two weeks ago First Book Senior Vice President Chandler Arnold and Director of Stakeholder Outreach Zanna Gilbert returned to the Yale School of Management to present the Marketplace as a case study.
“Just six weeks into my new job at First Book I had the honor of returning to the Yale School of Management, my alma mater, to talk about the First Book Marketplace with students in Sharon Oster’s Nonprofit Management class. It was fun to see some old classmates in the crowd, many of them tan from exotic spring break trips to places such as Colombia, Egypt, France, and Cambodia. Chandler and I were intrigued to once more put on our “MBA student hats” as Sharon taught the First Book Marketplace case that morning, and appreciated the insightful comments and analysis from the students.
For the “show and tell” part of class, I brought the First Book Marketplace story up-to-date from when the case was written in 2005 and left the heavy lifting to Chandler, who added his veteran insider perspective to issues that were raised during the class discussion and then fielded questions. Especially because being a graduate student was such a recent role for me, I clearly remember how great it was to be able to hear about business successes and challenges straight from the decision makers themselves.
I’m looking forward to returning again next year!”
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News From the North
March 28th, 2008
Katie B.
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First Book announces the expansion of its efforts to serve kids in need throughout North America. This spring, First Book/Le Premier Livre launches in Canada, taking our mission of providing children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books internationally.Eva Solujan, a tenured entrepreneur with experience in cause marketing and business development and a passion for children’s literacy and books, leads our new office. As Executive Director, Eva focuses on raising funds, building community alliances and distributing new books to programs serving children in need across all provinces.
Want to get involved? First Book/Le Premier Livre is looking for partners — from volunteering and outreach to fundraising and networking, you can be a part of First Book/Le Premier Livre, at this exciting time. Contact us to learn how you can help to make our work in Canada a success!
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First Book Marketplace at the Social Enterprise Alliance Summit
March 20th, 2008
Chandler A.
Leave a Comment »I recently attended the Social Enterprise Alliance’s annual summit in Boston. This gathering of social change leaders from around the world brought together entrepreneurs, lenders, investors, consultants, researchers and educators from a variety of social enterprises to share best practices and highlight leading initiatives. I am happy to say that the First Book Marketplace was invited to present at two panels focusing on funding opportunities for innovative organizations.
I could not be prouder of the way First Book and the First Book Marketplace continue to harness the power of the private sector to advance social change. It was also exhilarated to be reminded how many others are doing revolutionary things in this same category around the world. To learn more about the Social Enterprise Alliance please visit www.se-alliance.org or, better yet, join us for next year’s annual gathering April 15-17 in New Orleans!
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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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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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First Book in Fast Company, O Magazine, Domino and more!
December 20th, 2007
Katie B.
Leave a Comment »If you have a minute for some leisure reading (perhaps while waiting in a long checkout line or in a waiting area), be sure to check out First Book in the December issues of these magazines:
Fast Company Magazine highlights First Book as a 5 year winner of Fast Company/Monitor Group’s Social Capitalist award, recognizing outstanding entrepreneurial nonprofit organizations.O Magazine features First Book among several nonprofits that prove that even small donations can make a big difference in the world in their article “The Year of Giving Brilliantly” on page 303.
Domino Magazine highlighted First Book as an alternative gift for people on your list that don’t want (or need) anything this holiday in the “Antidote to Overload” article found on page 160.
Parenting Magazine encourages moms to give the gift of reading by contributing to First Book in their “Mom Notes” feature on page 25.Washingtonian Magazine features First Book as one of several Washington, DC area charities that are making a difference locally as a suggestion for year-end donations in the “Doing Good” article on pages 115-119.
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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.
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The First Book Marketplace Wins the Social Enterprise Innovation Award
May 8th, 2007
Chandler A.
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On April 17, the First Book Marketplace was awarded the Social Enterprise Innovation Award by the Social Enterprise Alliance and the Case Foundation. This award, given to the organization “designing the most innovative model in the field of social enterprise,” was presented at the Social Enterprise Alliance’s 8th annual gathering in Long Beach, CA.
I was lucky enough to spend a several days at the gathering meeting other social entrepreneurs from across the country and around the world. From local innovators running small bakeries employing traditionally underserved employees in a single community to international organizations seeking millions of dollars in expansion capital, it was an exhilarating experience speaking with others harnessing the power of the private sector to advance social change.
To learn more, you can download a pdf about this year’s award winners.
