They each shared their reasons for being there – cherished memories of reading
with a parent, the desire to instill a love of reading in their own kids, wanting to honor a father’s passion for education. It was the first task Joy Brooke, co-chair of First Book’s Seattle volunteer chapter, asked her members to complete.
“Everyone had a story that led them to First Book. And everyone believed in the simple goal of getting books to kids,” said Joy. Joy herself was drawn to the idea of helping put new books into the homes of low-income families. As a teacher and a mother of two who is also earning her doctorate in Education Leadership, she also loves how much flexibility and creativity she has a First Book volunteer.
In the past year, she and the Seattle volunteer chapter held a unique fundraising event a local glassblowing studio, distributed a truckload of 40,000 books to local kids in need and hosted their 3rd Annual Storytime event with local celebrities.
To top it all off, Joy took advantage of a recent family vacation to provide new books to kids in Costa Rica. Her own kids joined her on a visit to a school in the coastal town of Quepos where they toured the library and read stories in Spanish. “The experience,” she said, “was the most rewarding part of the trip. It cost so little and was worth so much.”
First Book is grateful to Joy and all the volunteers who help bring books to kids across the country and around the globe. To join First Book as a volunteer, visit www.firstbook.org/volunteer.
The post The Joy of Giving Back appeared first on First Book Blog.
I had the pleasure of taking part in the
Pulpwood Queens' Girlfriend Weekend, Jan 13-16 in Jefferson, TX. To say I had fun is a gross understatement. I had a BALL, especially at the Great Big Ball of Hair Ball! (You'd have to be there)
Not only does founder,
Kathy Louise Patrick of
Beauty and the Book - a beauty salon/bookstore - support literacy and authors, she is hugely involved in the
Dolly Parton Imagination Library. There's nothing this dynamo won't do when it comes to reading!
And, a shout-out goes to my home county,
Harrison/Corydon, Indiana!
The
Harrison County Community Foundation is again offering a 2:1 match during the 2011 calendar year; this time to support Dolly Parton's Imagination Library program through the Early Readers Fund.
"The program will cost about $50,000 a year", reports executive director Steve Gilliland. "This double-match incentive is to recruit donor partners from the community to help us build an endowment that will perpetually fund the Imagination Library."
Joan and Pete Schickel quickly took advantage of the Foundation's offer. They provided nearly $25,000 in stock to become the lead private donor.
"Everyone knows how much we love children and our schools," says Joan. "Pete and I believe this program will help provide an appreciation for reading and give children a head start for kindergarten."
Please support the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in your area. If your county doesn't have one, look into starting one!
Here's how:A community must make the program accessible to all preschool children in their area. The community pays for the books and mailing, promotes the program, registers the children, and enters the information into the database.
From there The Dollywood Foundation takes over and manages the system to deliver the books to the home. You can find out more of the operational details on other pages in this website – so what are you waiting for! Hundreds of communities are providing books to hundreds of thousands of children.Check out the
Pulpwood Queens, Beauty & the Book and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library! Click Here Mary Cunningham Books for 'Tweens
I just received the latest review for Cynthia's Attic: Curse of the Bayou from Blog Critics and I'm thrilled! Here's an excerpt:
"I have read all of Cunningham’s books so far and I have to say this is the best. I especially loved the "Southern" atmosphere in this book, the threatening setting of the swamps and humid Louisiana climate. Each chapter is filled with mystery and adventure and ends with an exciting cliffhanger. The pace is quick and the chapters short, adding to the suspense."
Here's the link if you'd like to read the full review by Mayra Calvani.
Blog Critics Book Reviews
Mary Cunningham Books
Typical historical romance. Tee latest in the Bastion club series by Laurens. Fluffy fun and not too serious. Gervase, an earl, keeps getting called back to his estate by mischief his sister’s are causing. They don’t want him to find a wife in London and so keep breaking things to keep him at home. Once he promises to look for a bride closer to home they back down. Enter neighbor Madeline who has taken care of her three brothers since her fathers death many years before. She is seen as off hte market and more of a man, but Gervase sees past that to the woman beneath. Enter illicit passion and a cold ruthless thief and voila you have a story.
.jpg?picon=834)
Hey Mary,
I read it too! How awesome is that? Woohoo!
Isn't it amazing what a powerful tool the internet is in this way?
What a great way to network and get exposure. Your series is awesome Mary and the next book is going to get the same great reviews!
Way to go!
Word
Thanks, Word. I agree. What did we do before the Internet??
Thanks for your supportive and encouraging post.