First Book and the Guru Krupa Foundation Provided More Than 18,000 Books and Essentials—Including Meals—to Kids in Need in 2017

WASHINGTON (Jan. 3, 2018) – The Guru Krupa Foundation, a private foundation that supports the preservation and acquisition of knowledge, distributed more than 18,000 books and educational resources, and 285 cartons of food, to kids in need this year, in collaboration with First Book. First Book, the nonprofit social enterprise focused on equal access to quality education for kids in need, and the Guru Krupa Foundation have provided more than 115,000 books and educational resources to children in need in the United States and in India since 2012.

“Education is a fundamental cornerstone for success but no less important is making sure children are fed and nourished” said Mukund Padmanabhan, president of Guru Krupa Foundation. “Through our work with First Book, we hope to improve the lives of underprivileged children by extending the benefits of education and addressing some of their nutritional needs. This will hopefully lead to enormous future dividends, not only for the children but for society as a whole.”

Access to books and a print-rich environment are leading indicators of a child’s educational success, but for the 32 million children growing up in low-income families in the U.S. alone, books are scarce. One recent study found that in a neighborhood in Washington, D.C., there was only one book per 830 kids.[1]

“Thanks to the Guru Krupa Foundation’s generosity, First Book has been able to nourish children’s minds and bodies,” said Kyle Zimmer, president and CEO of First Book. “All children deserve equal access to a quality education, and this partnership allows First Book to give educators the tools they need to ensure kids succeed in school and thrive outside of class. This work is making a difference across the U.S., and it wouldn’t be possible without the Guru Krupa Foundation.”

First Book works with formal and informal educators in a range of settings – from schools, classrooms, summer school and park and rec programs, to health clinics, homeless shelters, faith-based programs, libraries, museums, summer food sites, and more. In a poll of First Book’s network of more than 350,000 educators, nearly 80 percent of respondents said the books and resources from First Book help them be the best educator they can be.

Educators and programs working with children in need are invited to sign up with First Book at http://www.firstbook.org/register.

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About First Book

First Book is a nonprofit social enterprise founded in 1992 that has distributed more than 150 million books and educational resources to programs and schools serving children from low-income families throughout the United States and Canada, which, with more than 275,000 members, is the largest and fastest growing network of educators exclusively serving kids in need. By making new, high-quality books and educational resources available on an ongoing basis, First Book is transforming the lives of children in need and elevating the quality of education. Eligible educators, librarians, program leaders, and others serving children in need can sign up at www.firstbook.org/register. For more information, please visit firstbook.org or follow the latest news on Facebook and Twitter.

About the Guru Krupa Foundation

The Guru Krupa Foundation is a private foundation incorporated in New York State. The purpose of the foundation is to fund several charitable causes. These causes may be broadly classified as social, educational, or religious/cultural. For more information please visit www.guru-krupa.org.

[1] Neuman, S. B., & Moland, N. (2016). Book Deserts: Consequences of Income Segregation on Children’s Access to Print. Urban Education, 51 (6): 1-22.

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