First Book News

Borders 2007 Holiday Promotion is underway

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 00:00:00 PST

The 2007 holiday season is upon us and we are thrilled to announce the third annual Borders holiday-giving campaign!

Book Relief Brings More than 5 Million New Books to Children, Families and Communities on the Gulf Coast

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 00:00:00 PST

First Book gathered with national and local dignitaries, educators, and community members at the New Orleans Public Library to celebrate the distribution of more than 5.1 million new books to children, families, libraries, schools and programs impacted by the 2005 hurricanes through Book Relief, an unparalleled publishing industry-wide initiative.

The Mystery is Solved! First Book Campaign Reveals Nancy Drew Got Kids Hooked on Reading

Thu, 2 Aug 2007 00:00:00 PST

First Book has announced the results of its What Book Got You Hooked? campaign, revealing that thousands of Americans got hooked on reading by Carolyn Keene's Nancy Drew mysteries. The online initiative also asked visitors to vote for a state to receive a special donation of 50,000 new children's books. Oklahoma won the competition, receiving more than 34,000 of the nearly 133,000 votes cast.

First Book Asks Readers: What Book Got You Hooked?

Tue, 5 Jun 2007 00:00:00 PST

First Book has launched What Book Got You Hooked?, a national campaign to discover which books got Americans hooked on reading. The online campaign also asks readers to help select the state that will receive a special 50,000-book donation for children in need.

2007 Gulf Coast Summer Reading Initiative

Mon, 14 May 2007 00:00:00 PST

The 2007 Gulf Coast Summer Reading Initiative, supported by the U.S. Department of Education, First Book, and Scholastic Inc., provides 500,000 free books for students, families and communities in hurricane-affected states and encourages children to keep reading over the summer.

First Book to Receive Cause Marketing Forum's Prestigious Golden Halo Award

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 00:00:00 PST

The Cause Marketing Forum has announced that First Book will receive the Golden Halo Award, the highest honor in the burgeoning field of cause marketing. Cause Marketing Forum, an organization that helps companies and nonprofits do well by doing good, will present the award during its annual conference on May 17th in New York City.

First Book Receives More Than $830,000 from Borders Group and its Borders and Waldenbooks Customers

Tue, 23 Jan 2007 00:00:00 PST

This past holiday season, Borders and Waldenbooks teamed with First Book to launch a donation drive that raised more than $780,000. To kick-off the campaign drive, Borders Group made a $50,000 donation to First Book. In all, more than $830,000 was given to First Book as a result of the holiday drive.

U.S. Department of Education and First Book Announce Gulf Coast Holiday Book Donation

Thu, 14 Dec 2006 00:00:00 PST

First Book® and Random House Children's Books will distribute 50,000 books this week to literacy programs serving low-income children throughout Louisiana as part of the “Literacy and Justice For All” campaign conducted in partnership with BookExpo America in May.

First Book's Kyle Zimmer Named Social Entrepreneur of the Year in the United States by Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 00:00:00 PST

Kyle Zimmer, president and co-founder of First Book, was today named Social Entrepreneur of the Year in the United States by the Geneva, Swiss-based Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship provides unparalleled platforms at the country, regional and global levels that highlight social entrepreneurship as a key element to advance societies and address social problems in an innovative and effective manner.

First Book Receives Fast Company Magazine's 2007 Social Capitalist Award

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 00:00:00 PST

First Book, an international nonprofit that gives children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books, was today selected by Fast Company magazine and the Monitor Group to receive the 2007 Social Capitalist Award for the fourth straight year in the category of education and literacy.

Proceeds from NOGGIN's Get Ready To Read Auction to Benefit First Book

Mon, 6 Nov 2006 00:00:00 PST

On Monday, November 6, the commercial-free educational preschool network from Nickelodeon, will launch its first online charity auction featuring collectible lunchboxes designed by Isaiah Washington, Ray Romano, Rosie O'Donnell, Kelly Ripa, Patricia Heaton, Reba McEntire, John Lithgow and Sarah Ferguson the Duchess of York. Proceeds from the auction will benefit First Book.

First Book and AFA to be Featured on the Today Show on Tuesday, December 5th

Fri, 3 Nov 2006 00:00:00 PST

Chuck Leavell, longtime keyboardist for the Rolling Stones and spokesperson for the Abundant Forests Alliance (AFA), will be appearing on the Today Show on Tuesday, December 5th, to announce the distribution of 200,000 brand new children's books through First Book as part of the 2006 Today Show Holiday Toy Drive.

Borders and Waldenbooks Stores Join With First Book for Holiday Program to Get Books To Kids in Need

Wed, 1 Nov 2006 00:00:00 PST

Borders, Inc. and Walden Book Company, Inc., subsidiaries of Borders Group, Inc., a global retailer of books, music and movies with more than 1,300 stores worldwide, today announced that it has teamed with First Book , an international nonprofit that provides children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books, for a holiday giving campaign. This is the second consecutive year that Borders, Waldenbooks and First Book have joined together for a holiday fundraising drive.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast Asks First Book Children to 'Be Our Guest'

Tue, 31 Oct 2006 00:00:00 PST

First Book, Disney Theatrical Productions, and the Sister Power Organization have come together to share the classic story of Beauty and the Beast on Broadway and the joy of reading with local children in need at a “Be Our Guest” evening at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in New York City on October 31st.

First Book Tops Three Million Mark in Book Relief Distributions to the Gulf Coast

Thu, 28 Sep 2006 00:00:00 PST

Book Relief has surpassed the three million mark in book donations with a distribution of more than 170,000 books in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The books were donated by publishers Townsend Press and YES Solutions, as well as by display marketing company Imagine Nation Books.

Borders and Waldenbooks Stores Donate More than $270,000 to Support First Book

Tue, 12 Sep 2006 00:00:00 PST

Borders has announced that a four-day national promotion held the last weekend in August to benefit First Book raised more than $270,000. In this unique cause-marketing campaign, both Borders and First Book sent links to co-branded coupons to their email lists. The coupons provided consumers with a 10% discount on their purchases, while an additional 10% of the net proceeds from the sales, totaling more than $270,000, will be donated by Borders to First Book.

'Literacy and Justice For All' Books to be Distributed Throughout Louisiana

Mon, 10 Jul 2006 00:00:00 PST

James Patterson Pledges $500,000 to Promote the Excitement Of Books and Reading

Wed, 28 Jun 2006 00:00:00 PST

The 2006 James Patterson PageTurner Awards are $500,000 in annual cash prizes intended to celebrate the people, companies, schools and other institutions that find original and effective ways to spread the excitement of books and reading.

First Book Podcast with Eric Close, Star of Without A Trace

Tue, 27 Jun 2006 00:00:00 PST

Our most recent guest on the First Book Podcast was Eric Close, Verizon Yellow Pages Literacy Champion and star of the CBS hit series “Without A Trace.”

First Book Honors the State Library of Louisiana for Book Relief Efforts

Tue, 20 Jun 2006 00:00:00 PST

Today, representatives from First Book, Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu of Louisiana and civil rights activist and author, Ruby Bridges came together to honor the State Library of Louisiana for their tireless efforts in helping First Book to distribute 1 million new books, as part of their Book Relief initiative, to children and adults affected by the 2005 hurricanes in Louisiana.

First Book, the Embassy of Japan, Toshiba & Disney Bring Books to the Gulf Coast Region

Tue, 6 Jun 2006 00:00:00 PST

Toshiba, the Embassy of Japan and Disney have all provided significant support to help First Book bring more than two million books and other educational resources to individuals, schools, libraries and nonprofit organizations in the Gulf Coast region through Book Relief, First Book's national hurricane relief program.

Disney Live! presents Mickey's Magic Show and First Book are Making Books Appear Wherever they Go!

Wed, 17 May 2006 00:00:00 PST

Throughout the tour of Disney Live! presents Mickey's Magic Show, First Book and Disney Live! will promote literacy and donate funds to provide new books to children in need.

Joan Allen celebrates Earth Day with First Book & AFA in Maryland

Wed, 19 Apr 2006 00:00:00 PST

Joan Allen, highly acclaimed Academy Award nominee, will join The Abundant Forests Alliance (AFA) and First Book on April 20 for a book distribution, story telling, and tree planting at a local elementary school.

Chuck Leavell celebrates Arbor Day with First Book & AFA in the Gulf Coast

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 00:00:00 PST

To commemorate Arbor Day, children in the devastated Gulf Coast region, and children in need nationwide, will receive a donation of more than 100,000 books made possible by First Book through a generous donation from The Abundant Forests Alliance (AFA).

Noggin Kicks Off Campaign to Generate 1 Million New Books to Kids in Need!

Fri, 7 Apr 2006 00:00:00 PST

NOGGIN furthers its commitment to early literacy as the commercial-free, educational network for preschoolers kicks off a new literacy campaign entitled, “Get Ready To Read.”

SBLI USA & First Book: Helping Children to Build Strong Futures and Achieve Their Dreams

Wed, 5 Apr 2006 00:00:00 PST

SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Company, Inc., the financial services company committed to the people who make America work, has named First Book beneficiary of its annual charitable recognition gala, to be held Saturday, January 28, 2006.

First Book named winner of 2006 Fast Company/Monitor Group Social Capitalist Award

Tue, 4 Apr 2006 00:00:00 PST

For the third consecutive year, First Book has been named a winner of the Social Capitalist Award by Fast Company magazine and the Monitor Group.

First Book and the CDC Team Up to Give Books to Native American children

Mon, 3 Apr 2006 00:00:00 PST

First Book and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have joined forces to distribute 300,000 books to Native American children across the country.

Book Relief to distribute more than 5 million books to Katrina victims

Sun, 2 Apr 2006 00:00:00 PST

Book Relief is an unprecedented, publishing industry-wide effort that will distribute at least five million new books to those displaced by the 2005 hurricanes, to organizations, schools, and libraries supporting the evacuees, and to replenish the schools and libraries being rebuilt on the Gulf Coast.

IHOP's National Pancake Day Benefits Children's Literacy!

Tue, 7 Mar 2006 00:00:00 PST

Over 800 IHOPs celebrated National Pancake Day by encouraging their guests to make a donation to First Book.

Funai & Disney Team with First Book to Donate Learning Libraries to Every Head Start Program in the Country

Mon, 6 Mar 2006 00:00:00 PST

Disney and Funai have joined together with First Book to donate new Learning Libraries to every Head Start program in the country.

Become an All-Star For a Child In Need!

Wed, 1 Feb 2006 00:00:00 PST

Throughout the month of February, stop by a Build-A-Bear Workshop® store with your kids and make your own NBA All-Star Read Teddy®. A portion of proceeds will be donated to Book Relief through First Book for every Read Teddy sold through February.

First Book teams up with Build-A-Bear Workshop® to find Huggable Heroes!

Wed, 1 Feb 2006 00:00:00 PST

Build-A-Bear Workshop® is now taking nominations for its third annual Huggable Heroes® program which recognizes everyday kids in communities all across North America who go to extraordinary lengths to make life better for others.

IHOP's National Pancake Day is February 28th!

Wed, 1 Feb 2006 00:00:00 PST

On Tuesday, February 28, 2006, over 800 IHOPs around the country* will be teaming up with First Book to celebrate National Pancake Day – a day that promises to be both filling and fulfilling!

First Book and Disney Live! Bring the Magic of Winnie the Pooh, Reading and Books to Children in Need

Fri, 9 Dec 2005 00:00:00 PST

To celebrate Winnie the Pooh’s 80th Anniversary, First Book and Disney Live! Winnie the Pooh will hold community events in the New York area throughout December 2005, bringing the magic of a much-loved character and the joy of reading and books to children in need.

Cheerios gets books where they should be: into kids's hands

Tue, 15 Nov 2005 00:00:00 PST

Starting in November 2005 and continuing into early 2006, the fourth annual Cheerios “Spoonfuls of Stories” program is putting five million books FREE inside Cheerios boxes.

First Book and Borders Group Kick Off Holiday Program To Get Books To Kids In Need

Mon, 14 Nov 2005 00:00:00 PST

From November 15th until December 15th, customers at Borders and Walden Book stores will be encouraged to donate $1, $3, $5 or more to First Book as they make their holiday purchases. Borders Group will initiate the giving campaign with a $50,000 commitment to First Book and will encourage all customers to participate.

First Book and the Embassy of Japan Celebrate Nearly $900,000 in Donations to Hurricane Relief Initiative

Mon, 14 Nov 2005 00:00:00 PST

On November 2, 2005, the Honorable Ambassador of Japan, Ryozo Kato and his wife hosted three events to support Book Relief. Book Relief supporters across a wide spectrum gathered at the Ambassador’s residence for a reception, as well as a private dinner for those who provided significant support for the hurricane relief initiative.

Oprah’s Angel Network Book Club Award for $250,000 to Support Book Relief

Sat, 1 Oct 2005 00:00:00 PST

First Book received the largest Oprah’s Angel Network Book Club Award for $250,000 to support Book Relief, a publishing industry-wide effort recently launched in response to the terrible devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

First Book is an Amazon.com Nonprofit Innovation Award Finalist

Tue, 19 Jul 2005 00:00:00 PST

First Book was selected from almost 1,000 qualified nonprofits that represent a range of causes, both local and global.

FBMP Wins Grand Prize In Yale Business Plan Competition

Wed, 8 Jun 2005 00:00:00 PST

The Goldman Sachs Foundation Partnership on Nonprofit Ventures announced its selection of four grand-prize winners and four runners-up at the final round of the Third National Business Plan Competition for Nonprofit Organizations, in Jersey City, New Jersey on Friday, June 10.

First Book and Lowe’s Have the Need for Speed

Fri, 15 Apr 2005 00:00:00 PST

On April 15, Team Lowe’s NASCAR Busch Series Driver Blake Feese kicked off the 2005 First Book Speed Read™ Challenge at the Lowe’s store in Lewisville, TX.

First Artists Teams Up with Fashion Designer Sigrid Olsen

Fri, 1 Apr 2005 00:00:00 PST

Fashion designer Sigrid Olsen and national nonprofit First Artists today announced the launch of “Sigrid Olsen Scarf for Supplies,” a new partnership designed to raise funds for arts education for underserved children.

John Lithgow and Cheerios Encourage Parents to Read With Their Kids

Wed, 2 Feb 2005 00:00:00 PST

Cheerios, First Book and John Lithgow, actor and children's author, have developed a Public Service Announcement (PSA) that encourages parents to read with their children.

Holiday Craft Party Shows the Magic in Books

Tue, 1 Feb 2005 00:00:00 PST

First Book-UC Raymond Walters College (OH) invited children from First Book recipient groups to a holiday craft party to celebrate their progress, encourage them to continue reading, and involve them in a service project for other children.

A Big Hit for First Book-Lynn, MA

Sun, 17 Oct 2004 00:00:00 PST

Baseball fans turned out in full force recently as First Book-Lynn (MA) and the Lynn Area Chamber of Commerce partnered to host a private showing of the 2004 Boston Red Sox World Championship trophy.

First Book Named Forbes Gold Star Charity

Mon, 8 Dec 2003 00:00:00 PST

In 2003, Forbes named First Book one of ten Gold Star Charities.