First Book Press Releases

Mo Willems and First Book Join Forces to Bring New Books to New Orleans Kids

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:12:39 GMT

Press Release Mo Willems and First Book Join Forces to Bring New Books to New Orleans Kids WASHINGTON, Feb. 7, 2012 Mo Willems, author and illustrator of the award-winning Elephant Piggie books, is teaming up with First Book, the national nonprofit that provides new books for kids in need, to bring books to second-graders at Title I schools in Louisiana and Massachusetts. Willems, who the Washington Post called "the most famous man in the literary world, if you are under three feet tall (http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/mo-willems-is-the-go-to-author-for-children--and-their-parents/2012/01/06/gIQAFLztfP_story.html)", grew up in New Orleans and lives in Massachusetts. This is the second year he has worked with First Book to reach children from low-income families in those communities. "First Book works with kids in thousands of Title I schools, and they love Mo's books," said Kyle Zimmer, president and CEO of First Book. "These are the popular, high-quality books that more affluent parents are able to afford for their children, and those are exactly the kinds of books we want to distribute. We're excited to provide them because the kids are excited to read them." First Book is providing over 7,000 Elephant Piggie books, thanks to support from Willems and Disney Publishing Worldwide, who are making the Read more... (http://www.firstbook.org/component/content/article/5-press-release/175-mo-willems-and-first-book-join-forces-to-bring-new-books-to-new-orleans-kids)

First Book Canada to Distribute 45,000 Books to Children in Need in British Columbia

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:48:09 GMT

Press Release First Book Canada to Distribute 45,000 Books to Children in Need in British Columbia First Book Canada and Decoda Literacy Solutions Join Forces to Distribute Brand-New Books MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Jan. 30 -- First Book Canada (http://www.firstbookcanada.org/), working with Decoda Literacy Solutions (http://decoda.ca/), is distributing 45,000 books to children from low-income families across the region this week. Over 50 local teachers and program leaders across British Columbia will be picking up books for their programs. The books were donated by Owlkids Books, Raincoast Books and Orca Books, all Canadian publishers working with First Book Canada. "A big part of the Owlkids mandate is to have our books and magazines enjoyed by as many Canadian children as possible," said Jennifer Canham, Group Publisher, Owlkids Books. "We dream that children's lives can be full of happiness. And we know giving the gift of reading will fulfill our dream. We value partners like First Book Canada who help us do just that." First Book Canada receives new books from publishers, and makes those books available to programs serving children from low-income families at regular book distributions around the country. This will be First Book Canada's first visit to British Columbia. "From a child's first Read more... (http://www.firstbook.org/component/content/article/5-press-release/174-first-book-canada-to-distribute-45000-books-to-children-in-need-in-british-columbia-)

Credit Suisse Hails First Book's Innovative Work in New Report Released at Davos

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:57:19 GMT

Press Release Credit Suisse Hails First Book's Innovative Work in New Report Released at Davos WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ In a new report released at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, Credit Suisse highlighted First Book (http://www.firstbook.org/)'s ground-breaking work as a prime example of a successful social enterprise. The report, "Investing for Impact: How social entrepreneurship is redefining the meaning of return (https://www.credit-suisse.com/news/en/media_release.jsp?ns=41934)", from Credit Suisse Research in collaboration with the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, provides the global financial community with insight into the major trends shaping impact investing around the world. First Book is included as one of five organizations providing "innovative yet pragmatic approaches to solving social problems". First Book is a nonprofit that provides new books to schools and local programs serving children from low-income families. Founded twenty years ago, First Book reaches a network of 27,000 schools and programs in the United States, plus 500 more in Canada, and has distributed over 85 million books to kids in need. "We're pleased that the global investment community is paying attention to First Book and our impact," said Kyle Zimmer, First Book's president and CEO. "Along with other organizations around the world, we're charting the way to civil Read more... (http://www.firstbook.org/component/content/article/5-press-release/172-credit-suisse-hails-first-books-innovative-work-in-new-report-released-at-davos)

First Book Launches Major Upgrade to Get More New Books to Kids in Need

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 22:20:22 GMT

Press Release First Book Launches Major Upgrade to Get More New Books to Kids in Need Updated 'Marketplace' Website Launches Today; Nonprofits and Title I Schools Will Have Better Access to New Books WASHINGTON, Nov. 30 – Today, First Book (http://www.firstbook.org/), a nonprofit that provides new books to kids in need, launched a major upgrade to the award-winning First Book Marketplace (http://www.fbmarketplace.org/). With these changes, educators and program leaders who work with children from low-income families will be able to get new, high-quality books for the children they serve, faster and easier. “There are tens of millions of children in this country who don’t have even the basic resources they need to learn and thrive,” said Kyle Zimmer, president and CEO of First Book. “By providing them with new, high-quality books, we’re helping to turn them into readers; something absolutely critical to their success.” In the New York Times in May, David Bornstein wrote (http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/16/a-book-in-every-home-and-then-some/): “The First Book Marketplace is trying to do for publishing what micro-finance did for banking: crack open a vast potential market that is underserved at significant social cost.” There are over 27,000 schools and programs signed up with First Book, serving kids from birth to age 18, all of which have Read more... (http://www.firstbook.org/component/content/article/5-press-release/161-first-book-launches-major-upgrade-to-get-more-new-books-to-kids-in-need)

Holiday Giving Alternatives: Provide New Books to Kids in Need

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 16:26:01 GMT

Press Release Holiday Giving Alternatives: Provide New Books to Kids in Need $2.50 Supplies a Brand-New Book for a Child in Need Disney to Match Every $1 Donation with One Additional Book WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 – For anyone who wants to brighten the lives of others this holiday season, you can give the gift of reading to kids from low-income families. New books donated to children who have none of their own will bring smiles to their faces and help change their lives for the better. First Book (http://www.firstbook.org/) is a nonprofit that provides brand-new books to kids in need, through a network of 28,000 schools and programs across the country. A donation of $2.50 provides a new book for a kid in need. This holiday season, Disney Publishing Worldwide has joined forces with us to magnify the impact of your gift. Disney Publishing Worldwide has pledged to donate one new book to children in the First Book network of schools and programs for every dollar raised. “After a year of funding cuts for schools and community programs, there’s a dire need to reach out and help take care of the most vulnerable members of our communities,” said Kyle Zimmer, president and CEO of First Book. “We Read more... (http://www.firstbook.org/component/content/article/5-press-release/158-holiday-giving-alternatives-provide-new-books-to-kids-in-need)

First Book Canada Celebrates New Location by Distributing Books to Over 30,000 Canadian Children

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 20:00:11 GMT

Press Release First Book Canada Celebrates New Location by Distributing Books to Over 30,000 Canadian Children TORONTO, September 23 – First Book Canada (http://www.firstbookcanada.org/) is making excellent use of its new office and warehouse space in Mississauga, Ontario, as it begins distributing over 30,000 books donated by Scholastic Canada Book Clubs’ ClassroomsCare (a philanthropy-based classroom literacy campaign designed to teach children about the joys of reading and giving) to children from low income families across Canada. “We couldn’t be more excited to officially join the Mississauga community,” said Tom Best, executive director of First Book Canada. “It has long been our dream to have a location with facilities that enable us to collect donations of new books from Canadian publishers and then quickly distribute them to Canadian groups serving children from low income families who otherwise would not have books of their own.” Sherry Campbell, president of Frontier College, one of the recipient groups, is thrilled with the donation. “We know from our work in marginalized or isolated communities that many families don’t have books in their homes or in their communities. On behalf of the thousands of kids across the country who will be receiving these books, we’re extremely grateful to First Book Read more... (http://www.firstbook.org/component/content/article/5-press-release/152-first-book-canada-celebrates-new-location-by-distributing-books-to-over-30000-canadian-children)

Every Sale of New philosophy Product to Provide New Books for Kids in Need

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 19:27:30 GMT

Press Release Every Sale of New philosophy Product to Provide New Books for Kids in Need WASHINGTON, Sept. 1 – A new product, custom-designed by philosophy, is hitting shelves this week: First Book (http://www.firstbook.org/), a nonprofit organization that provides new books to children from low-income families. “Our friends at philosophy are stepping up to make a real difference in the lives of girls and young women,” said Kyle Zimmer, president and CEO of First Book. “Because of their support, we’ll be able to provide tens of thousands of new books to children all over the country.” philosophy’s support is also making one particular book available – “My Life in Pink Green (http://www.fbmarketplace.org/servlet/Detail?no=4647)”, by Lisa Greenwald, the story of a 12-year-old girl who saves her family business through life-changing makeovers. Thanks to philosophy, this popular title is now available on the First Book Marketplace (http://www.fbmarketplace.org/), an online bookstore available exclusively to the 28,000 schools and programs in First Book’s network. "Celebrating the innocence and curiosity of childhood is inherent to the philosophy brand. By partnering with our friends at First Book, Read more... (http://www.firstbook.org/component/content/article/5-press-release/148-every-sale-of-new-philosophy-product-to-provide-new-books-for-kids-in-need)

First Book Joins Forces with the AFT to Support West Virginia Kids

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 14:40:15 GMT

Press Release First Book Joins Forces with the AFT to Support West Virginia Kids CHARLESTON, Aug. 29 A new alliance between Read more... (http://www.firstbook.org/component/content/article/5-press-release/145-first-book-joins-forces-with-the-aft-to-support-west-virginia-kids)

First Book Provides 300,000 Books to West Virginia Kids

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 14:19:58 GMT

Press Release First Book Provides 300,000 Books to West Virginia Kids WASHINGTON, Aug. 23, 2011 First Book has provided 294,228 brand-new books to children in need across West Virginia, and plans to distribute 14,000 more by the end of the summer. "With our reading scores what they are in the state, we need to get more books into the hands of these kids," said Angela Fedele of the WE CAN Program, a statewide program based in Princeton, W.Va., that provides volunteer mentors for at-risk kids. "Our kids don't have dreams, aspirations, hopes. They don't even think about college; it's not in their minds. That's why these books are so important. Books are the beginning of everything. You learn about other places, you learn about the world." Fedele was able to provide $3,000 worth of new books for the children in her program, thanks to a combination of grant money and support from local First Book volunteers. First Book, a nonprofit organization, works with over 400 programs and schools like the WE CAN Program across West Virginia. Each of these programs is eligible for up to $800 worth of credits enabling teachers and program leaders to purchase new and popular titles on the Read more... (http://www.firstbook.org/component/content/article/5-press-release/144-first-book-provides-300000-books-to-west-virginia-kids)

Wanted: The World's Next Great Children's Author

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 19:38:02 GMT

Press Release Wanted: The World's Next Great Children's Author WASHINGTON, July 7, 2011 Do you have a great idea for a children's story that you'd like to share with millions of readers? The annual Cheerios® New Author Contest is searching for the next great children's book author, and there are less than two weeks left to enter! The contest is a part of the Cheerios® Spoonfuls of Stories (http://www.spoonfulsofstoriescontest.com/) program, which encourages millions of parents to read with their children, and benefits First Book, a national nonprofit that distributes new books to children in need. Through First Book, Cheerios donates thousands of books to children from low-income families each year. Each year, one winning submission is published by Simon Schuster (http://www.simonandschuster.com/) Children's Publishing and featured inside millions of Cheerios® cereal boxes throughout the nation. The 2009 contest winner was Laurie Isop of Renton, Wash., whose book How Do You Hug a Porcupine? appeared in three million specially-marked boxes of Cheerios® cereal this spring and will be available in bookstores on July 26. You can read about Laurie's experiences with the contest (http://blog.firstbook.org/2011/04/12/contracts-and-proof-sheets-and-cheerios-oh-my/) on the First Book blog. If you have a great a story that you'd Read more... (http://www.firstbook.org/component/content/article/5-press-release/135-wanted-the-worlds-next-great-childrens-author)