First Book Blog

Volunteers in Action: Three Months to Make a Difference

Posted in: Impact Stories

Today’s blog post is from Abby Bartholomew. Abby works for Kenexa Corporation, a company with a stellar philanthropy program allowing recipients to donate their full-time efforts for three months to an organization of their choice. Abby was one of the chosen employees this year and is volunteering in Denver, CO... 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

10,000 miles. 10,000 books. One Amazing Adventure.

Posted in: Impact Stories

 Today’s blog post is from Leon Logothetis. Leon and Steven Priovolos have teamed up again for the Mongol Rally, a road trip that starts Saturday outside of London and ends in Ulan Bator, Mongolia. For every mile the two drive (and rules of the rally say the car can’t have more than a 1.2... 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

What Is Social Entrepreneurship? (And Why First Book Is Such a Good Example)

Posted in: Focus on First Book, Impact Stories

A social entrepreneur is someone who sees a social problem — like hunger, homelessness or lack of access to clean water — and looks for ways to solve it. Unlike more traditional business entrepreneurs, who are trying to generate profits, social entrepreneurs are trying to change society. Long-term change is... Read more

JetBlue Helps First Book Provide 10,000 New Books to Kids for Black History Month

Posted in: Focus on First Book, Impact Stories

Civil rights leader and former United States Representative Barbara Jordan once proclaimed, “Do not call for black power or green power. Call for brain power.” This February, our friends at JetBlue are answering that call by providing 10,000 new books to kids in need. The books will go to schools... Read more

MLK, The Obamas & First Book

Posted in: Focus on First Book, Impact Stories, Our Partners

“Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” – Martin Luther King Jr. Every year,... Read more

We Couldn't Have Done It Without You

Posted in: Focus on First Book

We had a great year at First Book, thanks to the help of supporters like you. Together, we’re transforming the lives of millions of children in need by ensuring they have new books of their own to read. I want to take a moment to say thank you, and tell... Read more

Books, Books, Books, Books, Books! First Book is Working Overtime to Distribute One Million Books by Next Weekend

Posted in: Focus on First Book

Yesterday we went to Nashville and picked up 50 cases of books for our organization that serves special needs and will be delivering them tomorrow at our basketball signups. This is going to be such an amazing thing for these special children and I can’t wait to see the smiles... Read more