The Philly Book Wish Program Fuels Kids’ Excitement for Reading
First Book and Philly Literacy Champions are infusing Philadelphia communities with culturally relevant books.
> Our Solutions > The Philly Book Wish Program Fuels Kids’ Excitement for Reading 
Philly Book Wishes Are Here!
Thanks to the support of the William Penn Foundation, First Book, Read by 4th, and the Philly Book Bank are partnering to ensure that local Philly programs have the books they need to engage families and get kids excited about reading. Over the next three years we will work with local organizations to distribute an estimated 75,000 brand-new, culturally relevant books throughout low-income communities in Philadelphia. The Philly Book Wish Program first launched in November 2022 and invites Philly-area literacy champions to apply for up to $5,000 worth of brand-new, diverse books. Anyone working in a Title I-eligible school or representing a program in which at least 7 of 10 children reached are from low-income families is eligible to apply for a Book Wish grant. To date, 87 Philly-based literacy champions have received Book Wish awards. A final Book Wish application cycle will open this summer. Check back in June for more information!
BOOK WISHES GRANTED
Background
Promoting Equity Through Access for Kids Across Philly
Access to books is critical to a child’s learning and development, and access to books that represent diverse communities, cultures, and families, is a key to unlocking curiosity, empathy, and a love of reading. High-quality, new books are expensive at retail, which often means that low-income children and their families miss out on the opportunity for equal access to the very books that engage and inspire children the most.
Millions of kids grow up never seeing their cultures and lived experiences reflected in the books they read. In a recent survey of Philly organizations focused on book access, only 26% of all books distributed between September – November 2021 reflected the culture and/or community of the children who received the books. The Philly Book Wish Program aims to increase that percentage to at least 50% on an ongoing basis, for all participating organizations. This initiative makes diverse, relevant content affordable and accessible for kids and families in Philadelphia so that more children can see themselves as heroes in the stories they read.
This collaboration exemplifies a strategy that shifts philanthropic dynamics, prioritizes coalition building for collective impact, and aligns complimentary skills and resources to maximize partnerships. Philanthropic funding doesn’t have capacity to support every disparate social sector project, but layered partnerships offer an opportunity to efficiently utilize funding dollars by breaking down competitive, grant-seeking barriers. First Book and its Philly partners are enacting a community-driven and locally focused impact plan that leans heavily on the bandwidth and systems of a national organization, while relying on local expertise and knowledge to lead the vision.
How to Engage
To be considered for a Philly Book Wish Program Grant, you must:
- Be a representative from a Title I-eligible school or an organization reaching low-income families
- Be a registered First Book member
- Be an eligible organization located in Philadelphia, PA
If not already a First Book member, sign-up now!
A final Book Wish application cycle will open this summer. Informational webinars for prospective applicants will be hosted prior to that time, beginning in June, with specific dates to be announced.
Informational Webinar
To learn more about how the program works, watch the Round 2 informational webinar or check out the slide presentation here.
About the Partners
About First Book
Education transforms lives. First Book is building a world where every child has access to a quality education. We work to remove barriers to education and level the playing field for kids in need. At the heart of our work are the 575,000 members of the First Book Network, the largest online community of individual educators, professionals and volunteers dedicated to supporting children in need across North America. This Network is the key to creating systemic change. Through our research arm, First Book Research & Insights, we conduct studies that aggregate their voices to identify barriers to equitable education and inform strategic solutions. To address their needs, we provide free and low-cost books, resources and access to leading experts through the First Book Marketplace, which uses aggregated buying power to support this underserved community. Founded in Washington D.C. in 1992 as a nonprofit social enterprise, First Book is dedicated to eliminating barriers to learning and inspiring young minds.
About The Philly Book Bank
The Philly Book Bank is part of a non-profit organization called Reading Recycled, a 501(c)3 located in the Delaware Valley area. The Philly Book Bank strives to eliminate children from growing up without books in their homes. This is accomplished by collecting new and gently used books and distributing them through the Book Bank to teachers and others serving children.
About Read by 4th
Read by 4th is a citywide coalition of parents and partners protecting every child’s right to read. Convened and managed by the Free Library of Philadelphia, this collective impact campaign works to create conditions at both the systems and grassroots level that will lead to a significant increase in the number of students in Philadelphia entering the 4th grade at reading level.
About the William Penn Foundation
The William Penn Foundation, founded in 1945 by Otto and Phoebe Haas, is dedicated to improving the quality of life in the Greater Philadelphia region through efforts that increase educational opportunities for children from low-income families, ensure a sustainable environment, provide inclusive and equitable public spaces and arts and culture experiences, and advance philanthropy in the Philadelphia region.
Contact
Media: ikenison@firstbook.org
For questions about registering with First Book or your Book Wish application: help@firstbook.org or 1-866-READ-NOW
For questions about partnering with First Book: partnerships@firstbook.org