First Book Blog - Education News & Stories

First Book Honored in New York Times Communities Fund Annual Holiday Giving Campaign

Posted in: Press Room

Receiving this recognition for the fifth year, this campaign shares First Book and its efforts to remove barriers to education with The New York Times’ readers NEW YORK – First Book has been selected as a beneficiary of The New York Times Communities Fund holiday giving campaign to help support its critical work of imp...

Tata Sons North America and First Book Distribute 35,000 books to New Jersey and New York Communities

Posted in: Press Room

Bolstering classrooms with high-quality books, supporting local educators, and community volunteerism on display at Newark Museum of Art NEWARK, N.J., Sept. 19, 2024 – This weekend, Tata Sons North America and First Book are distributing more than 35,000 books to New Jersey and New York City educators. With 250 educato...

First Book Tees Up Second Annual Virtual Golf Tournament for Educational Equity

Posted in: Press Room

National nonprofit launches charity golf event with Topgolf and World Golf Tour to bolster educational resources in Title I Schools WASHINGTON, Aug. 1, 2024 -- In partnership with Topgolf and World Golf Tour (WGT), First Book is launching the second annual First Book Open virtual golf tournament. The interactive, onlin...

Kroger Foundation, Freestore Foodbank, and First Book Launch Literacy Grants for Summer Meal Sites to Support Academic Growth and Healthy Development

Posted in: Press Room

Pilot program boosts summer reading alongside foodbanks in Ohio communities CINCINNATI, July 18, 2024 – First Book is thrilled to announce the launch of Cincinnati Summer Reading Pilot in collaboration with The Kroger Foundation and Freestore Foodbank. The pilot program is bolstering literacy at local foodbanks in the...

From Bus to Bookshelf: How the Free Book Bus and Johnson Elementary Nurture Young Readers

Posted in: Impact Stories, For Educators, First Book Communit Highlight

At First Book, we believe in the transformative power of stories, and are inspired by those who bring books to the hands of children who need them most. Two such inspiring examples are Sharon, the visionary behind The Free Book Bus, and the dedicated educators at Johnson Elementary. The Free Book Bus: Sharon's Journey...

AFT Gives Away 10 Million Books to Help Create a Generation of Joyful, Confident Readers

Posted in: Press Room

Pathbreaking Partnership with First Book Celebrates over a Decade of Putting Books Directly into the Hands of Kids and Families Who Need Them, Sparking Joy, Inspiring Hope and Building Community WASHINGTON (May 11, 2024)—Today, in five synchronized events across the country, the AFT celebrated the unprecedented milesto...

Diverse Books for All Coalition Giving Access to 145,000 Diverse Books Nationwide

Posted in: Press Room

National consortium aggregates buying power to bolster representation and access to diverse titles for young children WASHINGTON, DC (May 7, 2024) - As educators, students, and families begin to celebrate Children’s Book Week (May 6-12), the Diverse Books for All Coalition is thrilled to announce the purchase and avail...

Celebrating Young Changemakers: Meet the Winners of the Time for Change Youth Challenge!

Posted in: Impact Stories, Our Partners

First Book, alongside our friends at Ashoka, are excited to announce the winners of the Time for Change Youth Challenge ! These young innovators from all corners of the U.S. are being awarded $1,000 grants to bring their inspiring ideas to life and make a positive impact in their schools and communities. The Time for C...

First Book and Ashoka Announce 15 Youth Challenge Winners in Time for Change Nationwide Initiative

Posted in: Press Room

$1,000 grants spotlight student action to implement community-based solutions and embrace changemaking Washington, D.C. (March 28, 2024) – Today, First Book and Ashoka, leading organizations in educational equity and social entrepreneurship, have announced the 15 grand prize winners of the Time for Change Youth Challen...

First Book Named to The New York Times Communities Fund

Posted in: Press Room

The New York Times Communities Fund continues the legacy of “The Neediest Cases Fund” by supporting local, national and global nonprofits that provide direct support to under-resourced and over-burdened people NEW YORK (Nov. 14, 2023) -- Today, The New York Times Communities Fund announced that First Book will be featu...