Honors & Awards

2024

Bronze Telly Award

The Telly Awards

First Book and General Motors, in collaboration with our creative partners at 4Media Group, won a 2024 Bronze Telly Award for our video series, STEM Defines the Future. The series celebrates diversity in STEM and highlights the important role that nontechnical skills, such as resilience, problem-solving, creativity, and teamwork, play in career satisfaction and success.

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2021

Gold Halo Award

Engage for Good

First Book won the 2021 Engage for Good Gold Halo Award for the Empowering Educators program that supports courageous conversations on race in the classroom.

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2020

Gold Halo Award, Silver Halo Award

Engage for Good

First Book and New York Life Foundation won the 2020 Engage for Good Gold Halo Award for Disaster Prevention/Relief and the Silver Halo Award for Employee Engagement for creating Grief Ambassadors, providing support to grieving children and their families, and for expanding the Grief, Loss, and Healing section of the First Book Marketplace.

2019

Child Advocate Award

Texas AFT

Texas AFT, an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers, awarded First Book President, CEO, and Co-founder Kyle Zimmer with its Child Advocate Award for her work supporting equal access to quality education for all children.

Silver Halo Award

Engage for Good

The Halo Awards are North America’s highest honor for corporate social initiatives and cause marketing. First Book is proud to partner with Pizza Hut on The Literacy Project!

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2017

Entrepreneur of The Year®, Mid-Atlantic Award

EY

First Book President and CEO Kyle Zimmer was among the nine recipients of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Award in the Mid-Atlantic region for First Book’s sustainable, market-driven model.

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2016

Jefferson Award

American Institute for Public Service

First Book president and CEO Kyle Zimmer received the Jefferson Award Foundation’s annual award for outstanding public service benefiting the disadvantaged.

Peggy Charren “Free to Be You and Me” Award

Ms. Foundation for Women

First Book president and CEO Kyle Zimmer received the Ms. Foundation for Women’s Peggy Charren/Free to Be You and Me award honoring individuals in media whose work contributes to breaking through gender and racial lines.

Power 100 List 2016, Individuals Empowering Women and Girls

Ideagen

First Book president and CEO Kyle Zimmer made the 2016 Ideagen Power 100 List highlighting the 100 individuals and 100 organizations leading the way towards empowering women and girls globally.

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2015

David M. Rubenstein Prize

Library of Congress

First Book was awarded the 2015 David M. Rubenstein Prize, one of three Literacy Awards presented by the Library of Congress annually, for outstanding and measurable contributions in increasing literacy levels and for its commitment to the advancement of literacy.

Pacesetter Honors

The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading

First Book was recognized as a Pacesetter Partner by The Campaign For Grade-Level Reading for its sustained efforts in improving early learning and childhood literacy.

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2014

Lifetime Collective Impact Award

Ideagen

First Book president and CEO Kyle Zimmer received the Lifetime Collective Impact Award from Ideagen in 2014.

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Literarian Award

The National Book Foundation

The National Book Foundation honored First Book CEO Kyle Zimmer with its 2014 Literarian Award for her outstanding leadership and achievements in overcoming childhood illiteracy and promoting educational equality.

2013

Security Benefit Corporation Award for Outstanding Service to Public Education

National Education Association

This award from the National Education Association (NEA) Foundation was presented in 2013 to recognize First Book’s pioneering and innovative work and achievements to fight illiteracy.

Golden Gratitude Award

Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators

First Book was recognized with SCBWI’s Golden Gratitude Award for outstanding contribution to the field of children’s books in August 2013.

2012

‘Investing for Impact’ Award

Credit Suisse

In their 2012 ‘Investing for Impact’ report, Credit Suisse highlighted First Book’s “innovative yet pragmatic approach” to solving the problem of child illiteracy.

2009

Carle Honor

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

First Book president and CEO Kyle Zimmer was awarded the Carle Honor from The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in 2009 for her work on behalf of children’s literacy.

Philanthropy 400

Chronicle of Philanthropy

First Book has been on the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s annual list of the nation’s largest philanthropic groups since 2008.

2008

Nonprofit Marketer of the Year

American Marketing Association and American Marketing Association Foundation

First Book President and CEO Kyle Zimmer was honored by the American Marketing Association (AMA) and the American Marketing Association Foundation (AMAF) in 2008 for extraordinary leadership and achievement in the field of nonprofit marketing.

Social Capitalist Award

The Fast Company

First Book received the ‘Social Capitalist Award’ from Fast Company and the Monitor Group for using entrepreneurial genius to solve global issues from 2004 through 2008.

2007

Gold Halo Award

Engage for Good

First Book received the Gold Halo Award for the ‘Best Social Service/Educational Program’ from the Cause Marketing Forum in 2004, and again in 2007.

2006

Community Service Award

SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Company

First Book received the annual ‘Community Service Award’ from SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Company, Inc. in 2006.

Social Entrepreneur of the Year

Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship

First Book President and CEO Kyle Zimmer was named ‘Social Entrepreneur of the Year’ in the United States by Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship in 2006.

2005

Authors Guild Foundation Award

Authors Guild Foundation

First Book was recognized for ‘Distinguished Service to the Literary Community’ by the Authors Guild Foundation in 2005.

Nonprofit Innovation Award

Amazon

First Book was a finalist for Amazon.com’s ‘Nonprofit Innovation Award’ in 2005.

Nonprofit Ventures Business Plan Competition Grand Prize

Yale School of Management-Goldman Sachs Foundation Partnership

First Book was awarded the Grand Prize in the Yale School of Management-Goldman Sachs Foundation Partnership on Nonprofit Ventures Business Plan Competition in 2005.

2003

Gold Star Charity

Forbes Magazine

First Book was named a Gold Star Charity by Forbes Magazine in 2003.

Partner of the Year Award

Connect America

First Book received the ‘Partner of the Year Award’ from Connect America in recognition of highly successful partnerships with the nonprofit sector in 2003.

2002

Reggie Award Gold Medal

Promotion Marketing Association

First Book was awarded the Gold Medal for innovative cause-based marketing from the Promotion Marketing Association’s ‘Reggie Awards’ in 2002.