The Advisory Board of First Book UC-RWC has recently been awarded two grants that will help further their mission of being able to provide children of low income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books.Founded in 1992, First Book is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to promote literacy by getting new books into the hands of children. Although First Book is national in scope, its impact is local. During the first year of operation, First Book distributed approximately 12,000 books throughout three communities. Since then more than 40 million books have reached the hands of children in over 1300 communities around the country.
The award for $500 from Youth Service America/Verizon will be used to sponsor a second year activity titled “Our Heroes Read” in March.
First Book UC-RWC will sponsor this activity in conjunction with Read Across America, in order to focus on the importance of reading for success in life.
On March 2, Dr. Suess’s birthday, at Kenwood Towne Center, educators will be signing ordered children’s books to help embody success obtained through reading. Adding to the excitement, a costumed character will be on hand to motivate the children to read. First Book will also help distribute the signed books on March 11 at Kenwood Towne Center.
Verizon administrators and elected officials have also been invited to take part in the event.
The second grant awarded to the Advisory Board is a $2500 renewal from the Spaulding Foundation. This renewal will enable First Book UC-RWC to purchase new books for an additional ninety-five children. Bilingual books have recently been provided to some programs through the Advisory Board. Within one year, First Book UC-RWC has increased the number of programs that work with children before and after school from four to six, according to Helen Kegler, who coordinates the program here.
With the renewal of this grant by the Spaulding Foundation, the First Book programs will continue to expand.
More information on First Book and its programs can be found on their website, http://www.firstbook.org.
The Spaulding Foundation was established by former Cincinnati resident, the late Ruth Spaulding. Her foundation is dedicated to improving quality of life in the community, focusing on support in education, health and human services, with a strong commitment to mental health services and programs for chemical addiction.