First Book
Background and Mission
First Book, a national non-profit organization dedicated to fighting illiteracy, aims to help low-income children, one of the groups most at-risk for illiteracy. First Book provides children with the opportunity to read and own their first book. The program works with local literacy-programs to distribute books to children who otherwise have little access to reading materials. First Book wants to help children build their own libraries at home. By working with existing programs, First Book ensures that locations supportive and focused on learning receive donations.
First Book in College Park
Established in 2004, the First Book program in College Park, Md., has brought books to 585 children. Through grants from the University of Maryland, College Park Local Advisory Board, First Book works with three nearby organizations: Little Lights, D.C.; Martha's Table, D.C.; and Community of Hope, D.C.
Statistics
- Early childhood classrooms should include 300 age-appropriate books, according to the American Library Association.
- According to the National Center for Education Statistics.
- 80 percent of low-income childcare centers do not have any age-appropriate books for children.
- Approximately 60 percent of low-income families do not have any appropriate books for children in the home.
- The number of books in a home directly correlates with a child's reading level.
- First Book has distributed over 30 million books in more than 900 communities across the country to children in need.
Partners
First Book works to create positive relationships with members of the private sector to further the goals of the organization. As a leader in the field of social enterprise, First Book developed award-winning, cause-based marketing campaigns. Partnerships with respected corporations, nonprofits and government agencies facilitated these efforts. First Book partners include:
- American Library Association
- Baskin-Robbins
- Build-A-Bear Workshop
- The Coca-Cola Company
- Creative Artists Agency
- Disneyland - Worldwide Outreach for the Walt Disney Company
- General Mills' Cheerios
- HarperCollins Children's Books
- Kiwanis International
- Lincoln-Mercury
- The Mary Engelbreit Companies
- National Head Start Association
- PBS/Ready to Learn
- Points of Light Foundation - Connect America
- Random House Children's Books
- Scholastic Inc.
- Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P.
- Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
- Universal Studios
- U.S. Coast Guard
- U.S. Department of Education
- U.S. Postal Service
National Book Bank
First Book established the first national online donation and distribution system. The First Book National Book Bank enables publishers to donate large quantities of new books, which First Book distributes nationwide to literacy programs. Through this method, the National Book Bank puts new books directly into the hands of children in need.
Local Advisory Boards
Volunteer-driven Local Advisory Boards (LABs) act as the heart of the First Book program. Within a community, this group works with local literacy programs to expand the reach of the First Book program and raises funds to provide more children with books. LABs create and maintain a community network that reaches out to hundreds of local children.
Ways to Get Involved
First Book has numerous ways for individuals to get involved in promoting and continuing First Book's mission.
Volunteer
Volunteers can help by volunteering time to various activities:
- running events and distribute books
- publicizing the organization's mission and activities
- serving on the Local Advisory Board
Recommend
Parents, teachers and local officials can bring First Books services to their school district:
- Program serving youth in the community could receive First Book grants
- In order for a group to be eligible for a grant, 80 percent of the children the program serves must come from low-income families
- For those programs that do qualify for First Book grants, each child participating in the program can receive a new book each month or week, depending on the length of the program
Donate
Busy individuals, who do not have time to volunteer, can still help fight illiteracy by making a donation:
- Even the smallest donations bring the joy of a new book to a disadvantaged child
- Every donation counts and every dollar goes straight to the children
- A contribution of only $2.50 can buy a book for one deserving child
- A contribution of $30 can purchase new books for 10 children
- A contribution of $90 can provide 33 children with books of their own
- All donations are tax-deductible.
0144 Holzapfel Hall | College Park, MD 20742 | Phone: 301-314-READ | Fax: 301-314-7365 | arac@umd.edu
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