The Borders holiday campaign raised $783,424 for First Book’s local efforts to promote reading, Helen Kegler, RWC First Book coordinator, announced last week. “One hundred percent of these funds will be converted to Borders and Waldenbooks gift cards and distributed through First Book to benefit the amazing programs and children we serve,” Kegler said.Through the aid of donations from RWC faculty, staff, and students, the First Book UC-RWC Advisory Board will receive three $1000 Borders gift cards totaling $3,000 to grant to programs in the local community.
The RWC Advisory Board, which is composed of Helen Kegler, Diane Rogers, Gwen Dean, and Bernadette Deitz, has decided to award these gift cards to UC Mentors (UC medical students who tutor students in the CPS), Oyler Elementary, and Marva Collins Preparatory School. These gift cards will allow these groups to purchase new books at any of the Borders/Waldenbooks stores to use in working with the many children they serve through literacy programs.
The Board also announced two honors received by First Book recently:
First Book received the Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur of the Year recognition and 4th. straight year Fast Company Social Capitalist Award.