First Book and the Guru Krupa Foundation Have Provided More Than 137,000 Books and Essentials—Including Meals—to More Than 52,000 Kids in Need Since 2012

WASHINGTON (February 14, 2019) – The Guru Krupa Foundation, a private foundation that supports the preservation and acquisition of knowledge, today announced that in collaboration with First Book, they have distributed more than 137,000 books and educational resources to more than approximately 52,000 kids in need in the United States and in India since the beginning of their partnership in 2012. In 2018 alone, the organizations reached more than 10,000 kids in need, equal to more than 30 times the number of children reached in the partnership’s first year. In addition to books, the partnership has also distributed hundreds of cartons of food and other educational resources.

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]

“Education is a fundamental cornerstone for academic and personal growth. However, it is no less important to make sure children are fed and nourished,” said Mukund Padmanabhan, president of Guru Krupa Foundation. “Through our work with First Book, we hope to provide underprivileged children the opportunity to grow in mind and body by extending the benefits of education and addressing some of their nutritional needs. This will hopefully lead to enormous future dividends, for the children and for society as a whole.”

In a poll of the more than 400,000 educators that make up the First Book Network, more than 80 percent of respondents reported that without First Book, their students would have very few books, or none at all.

“Thanks to the Guru Krupa Foundation’s generosity, First Book has been able to reach tens of thousands of children in need,” 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.”

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

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About First Book

First Book believes education offers children in need the best path out of poverty. Through a sustainable, market-driven model, First Book breaks down barriers to quality education by making new, high-quality books and educational resources, including sports equipment, winter coats, snacks, and more, affordable to its member network of more than 400,000 registered educators who exclusively serve kids in need. Since 1992, First Book has distributed more learning materials than any other program of its kind: 175 million books and educational resources, worth more than $1.5 billion, reaching more than 5 million children annually.

First Book also expands the breadth and depth of the education field through a family of social enterprises, including First Book Research & Insights, its proprietary research initiative, and the First Book Accelerator, which brings best-in-class research to the classroom via relevant, usable educator resources.

Eligible educators, librarians, providers, 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] 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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