2008 Woodie Awards
Clearinghouse for Volunteers: Your favorite book?
Tricia Williams
Issue date: 4/10/08 Section: Editorial/Opinion
04/10/08 - First Book is a nonprofit organization that has a mission to give children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books. The organization provides a continuous supply of new books to children in community-based mentoring, tutoring and family literacy programs.
This organization was founded in 1992 and since then has played an essential role in the transformation of the quality of preschool and after-school programs nationwide. Nationally, First Book has donated more than 50 million books to children in more than 3,000 communities.
Since being established here on campus, First Book URI has made a number of donations to local Rhode Island literacy programs. Donations during the fall of 2007 included 600 books to Rhode Island Parent Information Network - Parent Consultant Programs (RIPIN) and 1,200 books to South County Community Action Headstart - Family Involvement Program. First Book URI also awarded a sub-grant to Jump Start URI, another on-campus program that focuses on improving literacy rates among preschool children. It works toward the day that every child in America enters school prepared to succeed.
"Your Favorite Book?" is a fundraising effort taking place here on campus. The purpose of the fundraiser is to help purchase books that will be donated to children from low-income families around Rhode Island.
Michonne Gamble-Rivers, the brains behind the effort, had this to say about organizing the event: "The title of the fundraiser came about when I was thinking about my favorite childhood book and how excited I was. I figured that it would also spark the excitement in others and they would be willing to donate. Contributing [to the fundraiser] allows a child the same experience [students] had with their favorite book."
Nationally, First Book organized something similar to Michonne's on-campus campaign. It was titled "What book got you hooked?" and was geared toward celebrities and asked them what their favorite childhood books were. A number of celebrities responded, including actresses, singers and authors. Laura Numeroff, the author of "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie," reported her favorite book was "Eloise," written by Kay Thompson and illustrated by Hilary Knight.
This organization was founded in 1992 and since then has played an essential role in the transformation of the quality of preschool and after-school programs nationwide. Nationally, First Book has donated more than 50 million books to children in more than 3,000 communities.
Since being established here on campus, First Book URI has made a number of donations to local Rhode Island literacy programs. Donations during the fall of 2007 included 600 books to Rhode Island Parent Information Network - Parent Consultant Programs (RIPIN) and 1,200 books to South County Community Action Headstart - Family Involvement Program. First Book URI also awarded a sub-grant to Jump Start URI, another on-campus program that focuses on improving literacy rates among preschool children. It works toward the day that every child in America enters school prepared to succeed.
"Your Favorite Book?" is a fundraising effort taking place here on campus. The purpose of the fundraiser is to help purchase books that will be donated to children from low-income families around Rhode Island.
Michonne Gamble-Rivers, the brains behind the effort, had this to say about organizing the event: "The title of the fundraiser came about when I was thinking about my favorite childhood book and how excited I was. I figured that it would also spark the excitement in others and they would be willing to donate. Contributing [to the fundraiser] allows a child the same experience [students] had with their favorite book."
Nationally, First Book organized something similar to Michonne's on-campus campaign. It was titled "What book got you hooked?" and was geared toward celebrities and asked them what their favorite childhood books were. A number of celebrities responded, including actresses, singers and authors. Laura Numeroff, the author of "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie," reported her favorite book was "Eloise," written by Kay Thompson and illustrated by Hilary Knight.