First Book
Encyclopedia
First Book is a non-profit organization based out of Washington D.C. that works towards getting new "age appropriate
" books into the hands of children from low-income families.
" books and evoke children's interest in reading. In their first year, First Book distributed approximately 12,000 books to three communities and has since distributed millions of books to children across the nation.
Over the past 16 years First Book's distribution system has united over 20,000 programs and distributed over 65 million new books to children in many communities.
’s Angel Network became the first major donor and contributor to Book Relief with a three-year grant for $250,000 dollars. In 2006, Book Relief focused on getting books to institutions and programs directly along the Gulf Coast. By the end of the year First Book had distributed over 3.6 million books. In the final phase of Book Relief in 2007, First Book concentrated on helping get books to the New Orleans area by working out of a US Coast Guard facility. Thanks to the help of countless volunteers Book Relief was a complete success, distributing 5.1 million books to over 20 states, 200 libraries, and 2059 programs.
conducted two studies on First Book for the Department of Education
; first in June 1999 and then in January 2003. These studies concluded that First Book has had a positive impact on shaping children’s outlook on reading. To quote Louis Harris,
Age appropriate
Age appropriate refers to a developmental concept whereby certain activities may be deemed appropriate or inappropriate to a child's "stage" or level of development....
" books into the hands of children from low-income families.
History
Founded in 1992 by Peter Gold, Elizabeth Arky, and the current president Kyle Zimmer; First Book was designed to help get books into the hands of children who need them the most. Working with existing literacy programs such as Head Start centers, libraries, and after school initiatives, First Book ensures preschools and education programs have "age appropriateAge appropriate
Age appropriate refers to a developmental concept whereby certain activities may be deemed appropriate or inappropriate to a child's "stage" or level of development....
" books and evoke children's interest in reading. In their first year, First Book distributed approximately 12,000 books to three communities and has since distributed millions of books to children across the nation.
Kyle Zimmer, President and Co-Founder
As president and co-founder of First Book, an organization providing new books to children in need, Kyle Zimmer has earned a reputation as a leader in the fight to end illiteracy. She is a member of the Board of Directors for Ashoka and was named 2007 Outstanding Social Entrepreneur of the Year in the United States by the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. In 2008, Kyle was named the first ever American Marketing Association Nonprofit Marketer of the Year. Under Kyle’s leadership, First Book has distributed nearly 80 million books to children in thousands of communities since 1992.Programs
First Book organizes book distribution events, social enterprise and cause-based marketing campaigns, network engagement, and a large number of public/private partnerships:- First Book National Book Bank – This online system enables children's publishers to donate large quantities of new books for distribution to programs serving children's needs.
- First Book Marketplace – This on-line bookstore offers educators and after school programs high-quality titled books at a discounted rate.
- Local Advisory Board Networks – In an effort to get books to children all over the United States and Canada, this community-based model brings together local leaders, educators, and volunteers. The Advisory Boards identify heroic local programs serving the hardest to reach children and raise funds so that these groups can order new books for free through First Book.
- Million Page Mission - In 2008, First Book and Kraft FoodsKraft FoodsKraft Foods Inc. is an American confectionery, food and beverage conglomerate. It markets many brands in more than 170 countries. 12 of its brands annually earn more than $1 billion worldwide: Cadbury, Jacobs, Kraft, LU, Maxwell House, Milka, Nabisco, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia, Trident, Tang...
' Oscar MayerOscar MayerOscar Mayer is an American meat and cold cut production company, owned by Kraft Foods, known for its hot dogs, bologna, bacon and Lunchables products.-History:...
LunchablesLunchablesLunchables are a line of instant children's meals manufactured by Kraft Foods, Inc. They are marketed under the Oscar Mayer brand in the United States and Dairylea in the United Kingdom. Many Lunchables products are produced at Kraft Foods, Inc.'s Fullerton factory in Fullerton, California, and are...
, along with the public relations firm Weber ShandwickWeber ShandwickWeber Shandwick is a public relations firm.-History:Weber Shandwick is a formation of three previous companies:*The Weber Group - Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1987, leveraging emerging technologies such as the mobile phone and the internet into the world of communications, which made the company a...
launched the Million Page Mission to encourage children and parents to read 100 pages together during the back-to-school season. Arbor Books was selected to produce and publish the free downloadable children’s book, Adventures in the Stars to accompany the nationwide event. The foreword was written by actress Lori LoughlinLori LoughlinLori Anne Loughlin is an American actress, best known for her role as Rebecca Donaldson-Katsopolis on the ABC sitcom Full House. As of 2011, she portrays the role of Debbie Wilson on 90210, the spin-off of Beverly Hills, 90210...
.
Impact
Through partnerships with publishing organizations the First Book National Book Bank and the First Book Marketplace provide an ongoing supply of new books to community and mentoring based programs that encourage children to become lifetime readers.Over the past 16 years First Book's distribution system has united over 20,000 programs and distributed over 65 million new books to children in many communities.
Book Relief
In 2005, First Book launched Book Relief, a campaign to get books to those devastated by hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. In the beginning, Book Relief held nine book distributions which helped get 1.5 million new books to individuals, school districts, and public libraries. Oprah WinfreyOprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist. Winfrey is best known for her self-titled, multi-award-winning talk show, which has become the highest-rated program of its kind in history and was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2011...
’s Angel Network became the first major donor and contributor to Book Relief with a three-year grant for $250,000 dollars. In 2006, Book Relief focused on getting books to institutions and programs directly along the Gulf Coast. By the end of the year First Book had distributed over 3.6 million books. In the final phase of Book Relief in 2007, First Book concentrated on helping get books to the New Orleans area by working out of a US Coast Guard facility. Thanks to the help of countless volunteers Book Relief was a complete success, distributing 5.1 million books to over 20 states, 200 libraries, and 2059 programs.
Global Future for First Book
Three years ago, First Book served over 4,500 programs. By 2008 with the rollout of its revenue-generating storefront and increased title selection on the FBMP more than 20,000 organizations have now registered with First Book. With such exponential growth First Book plans to build the first global resources network.Louis Harris
Polling expert Louis HarrisLouis Harris
Louis Harris is an American opinion polling entrepreneur, journalist, and author. He ran one of the best-known polling organizations of his time, Louis Harris and Associates, which conducted the Harris Poll.-Life and career:...
conducted two studies on First Book for the Department of Education
United States Department of Education
The United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
; first in June 1999 and then in January 2003. These studies concluded that First Book has had a positive impact on shaping children’s outlook on reading. To quote Louis Harris,
In the end, these disadvantaged children, the least likely candidates to become literate, are close to matching stride for stride the steps that must be taken for them to learn to read and to become literate human beings. First Book is the indispensable catalyst providing the wherewithal for it all to happen.
Awards
- Fast CompanyFast Company (magazine)Fast Company is a full-color business magazine that releases 10 issues per year and reports on topics including innovation, digital media, technology, change management, leadership, design, and social responsibility...
Magazine, Social Capitalist Award (2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004) - Charity NavigatorCharity NavigatorCharity Navigator is an independent, non-profit organization that evaluates American charities. Its stated goal is "to advance a more efficient and responsive philanthropic marketplace by evaluating the financial health of America's largest charities."-About:...
, Four-Star “Exceptional” rating (2007) - Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, Social Entrepreneur of the Year in the U.S. (2007)
- Cause Market Forum, Gold Halo Award (2007).
- Yale School of Business – The Goldman Sachs Foundation partnership on Nonprofit Ventures Business Plan Competition, Grand Prize Winner (2005)
- Author’s Guild, Award for Distinguished Service to the Literary Community (2005)
- Forbes Magazine, Gold Star Charity (2003)
- Promotion Marketing Association, Reggie Gold Medal (2005).
- United States Coast Guard, Signature Charity since 2001