Category Archive: Focus on First Book

15,000 New Books on the National Mall, Plus Celebrities, Cabinet Secretaries and Cute Kids

Posted in: Focus on First Book, Impact Stories

On Saturday, volunteers from across the country joined First Book on the National Mall in Washington DC to celebrate President Obama’s National Day of Service by providing 15,000 brand-new books to DC-area children from low-income families. Click here to see photos of the event, including pictures of volunteers, political leaders,... Read more

Pi Beta Phi Brings Books About Great American Women to Kids in Need

Posted in: Focus on First Book, Impact Stories

This past November, First Book’s partner, Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women, celebrated their 100-year commitment to literacy service. To honor the momentous occasion, the Fraternity donated a special Pi Beta Phi edition of “Remember the Ladies: 100 Great American Women” to every student at Pi Beta Phi Elementary School... Read more

Our Big Year Together

Posted in: Focus on First Book

Happy holidays, from everyone at First Book! We had a big year here at First Book! I want to let you know everything we accomplished this year, and ask for your support as we continue our work to transform education by bringing new books to children from low-income families. First... Read more

First Book and AFT Bring a Truckload of Books to Hurricane Sandy Victims

Posted in: Focus on First Book, Impact Stories

Last night, four First Book employees, with help from American Federation of Teachers’ volunteers, ventured to a small alley in the financial district of New York City to unload, label and sort 30,000 children’s books for victims of Hurricane Sandy. The American Federation of Teachers and their local New York... Read more

Banking On Books: TD Bank and First Book Bring 20,000 New Books to Kids in Need

Posted in: Focus on First Book, Impact Stories

We are excited to share the big news that our friends at TD Charitable Foundation are stepping up with $114,000 in grants to put books in the hands of kids in need! The TD Charitable Foundation and First Book have provided new books to 50 schools and programs for the... Read more

Lots of Noise, But No One in the Room

Posted in: Focus on First Book, Impact Stories

“There is a great deal of noise on the stairs but nobody comes into the room.” — John F. Kennedy President Kennedy was referencing a Chinese proverb when he said that, making the point that it was easy to talk about problems, but much more difficult to fix them. Kyle... Read more

Teachers Join Forces With First Book: Weingarten Challenges AFT Members to Give Five Million Books to Kids in Need

Posted in: Focus on First Book

This is our new challenge. Today I am calling on AFT members to partner with First Book to distribute five million new books this year to students in need. — Randi Weingarten, AFT president First Book was in Detroit over the weekend, attending the annual convention of the American Federation... Read more

First Book & The GM Foundation Bring Books to Kids in Michigan

Posted in: Focus on First Book

First Book is happy to be partnered with the GM Foundation to bring books to kids in need in the Michigan area. Our partnership was kicked off by an event in Flint, Michigan for 400  kids and was hosted by the local Boys & Girls Club. Thanks to the support of the... Read more

Success Stories: Literacy as Currency

Posted in: Focus on First Book, Impact Stories

Today’s guest blog post comes from Michelle Janaye. Michelle is the assistant director of The H.O.P.E. Scholarship, a non-profit organization designed to empower financially-challenged students with need-based scholarships. She is also a freelance writer and videographer in the Chicago metropolitan area. Follow her on Twitter @michellejanaye. There was never a... Read more

Creating Success Stories for 20 Years

Posted in: Focus on First Book

Twenty years ago I was volunteering every week at a soup kitchen in Washington, D.C., where I met the most amazing children and families. As I got to know them, I saw how much they had to struggle, but I also saw how bright they were and how motivated they... Read more