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In December 2006 First Book president and co-founder Kyle Zimmer was named Social Entrepreneur of the Year in the United States by the international Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. She concluded her year with a trip to Davos, Switzerland for the annual World Economic Forum last month. Here, Kyle writes about the three-day Summit for Social Entrepreneurs in Zurich preceding the Forum.

“A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to travel to Switzerland to attend the Schwab Foundation’s annual Summit for Social Entrepreneurs as well as the World Economic Forum.

At both gatherings, I had the honor to hear some of the brightest individuals on the planet speak about how they are tackling some of the world’s largest social problems. I was inspired by their stories. There are too many to list them all, but to give you a few examples:

In Singapore, Jack Sim has made sanitation issues and public toilets his mission to help save the lives of millions of children each year. In Chile, Mary Anne Muller Prieto has founded a school that focuses on the most troubled youth. Students graduate with a technical degree in farming and organic agriculture and, in the process, learn the life and leadership skills to turn their lives around.

I was humbled to find myself in the company of these individuals – true heroes working at great risk and sacrifice not only to themselves but also to their families. They are moving mountains in the face of tremendous opposition, which makes me believe that here in the most open society in the world, we too, can solve the literacy crisis plaguing our nation.

As we look ahead, First Book is poised for significant growth in our capacity to end illiteracy. We stand firm in our commitment to reach the most disadvantaged children and we are thankful for your continued help as we speed ahead.”

I was honored to have the opportunity to represent First Book at this year’s Social Capitalist Awards dinner hosted by Fast Company magazine and Monitor Group.

This year’s event was hosted in Washington, DC – a very convenient locale for many of the evening’s honorees – and brought together some of the best minds working today in the field of social enterprise. It was a thrill to be representing First Book, one of just ten organizations to have received this honor for five consecutive years.

To look around the room was truly awe-inspiring — the individuals in the room have directed their entrepreneurial vision towards solving some of the world’s greatest ills, and the reality is — it’s working. Organizations such as Accion International, College Summit and Endeavor Global are creating models to disrupt the cycle of poverty. Those actions have the ability not only to change the lives of the individuals they serve, but the society in which we all live. Let me tell you, there are worse ways to spend an evening than celebrating these incredible individuals and organizations.

One of the greatest thrills for me was getting the opportunity to meet Fast Company contributor, Dan Heath. I seized the moment to tell him how thought-proving and entertaining I found his article “The Inevitability Of $300 Socks.” I’d encourage you to take a moment to read the article at FastCompany.com and let me know your thoughts.

To learn more about the Social Capitalist Awards and the incredible individuals with whom I got to spend an evening, please visit Fast Company’s Web site.

Tags: socialcaptalistaward, fastcompany, firstbook, accioninternational, collegesummit, endeavorglobal

What did you spend $10 on in 2007? Movie tickets, lattes, dry cleaning?

What can $10 do in 2008? Help put an end to illiteracy.

First Book is working tirelessly each day to resolve the illiteracy crisis by bringing beautiful, new books to the most economically disadvantaged children in communities nationwide. And we are making a difference – as Madison, a third-grader who received books from First Book, tells us: “Thank you for the awesome books. We lost all of ours in Hurricane Katrina. I love reading books. Books take me places where I haven’t been before.”

Get started on your 2008 good works early, and help us prove that everyone has the power to help end illiteracy in our lifetime. The Case Foundation, in partnership with Facebook, is challenging nonprofits to put social networking sites to charitable use. The cause that inspires the most donors wins an additional $50,000.

Join our cause and make a difference for a child in need. The challenge is going on now and runs until January 31.

Tags: casefoundation, facebook, cause

If you have a minute for some leisure reading (perhaps while waiting in a long checkout line or in a waiting area), be sure to check out First Book in the December issues of these magazines:

Fast Company Magazine highlights First Book as a 5 year winner of Fast Company/Monitor Group’s Social Capitalist award, recognizing outstanding entrepreneurial nonprofit organizations.

O Magazine features First Book among several nonprofits that prove that even small donations can make a big difference in the world in their article “The Year of Giving Brilliantly” on page 303.

Domino Magazine highlighted First Book as an alternative gift for people on your list that don’t want (or need) anything this holiday in the “Antidote to Overload” article found on page 160.

Parenting Magazine encourages moms to give the gift of reading by contributing to First Book in their “Mom Notes” feature on page 25.

Washingtonian Magazine features First Book as one of several Washington, DC area charities that are making a difference locally as a suggestion for year-end donations in the “Doing Good” article on pages 115-119.

Tags: fastcompany, socialcapitalistaward, omagazine, domino, parenting, washingtonian

Can Facebook be used for the greater good?

That’s what the Case Foundation is out to find out. Last Thursday marked the launch of their Giving Challenge in partnership with Causes on Facebook — an intriguing experiment that will test the impact of so-called “viral philanthropy.”

The challenge is for nonprofits large and small to inspire the highest number of online donors over a 50-day period (now through January 31) for a chance to win an additional $50,000. Significantly, the emphasis is not on the total amount raised by each nonprofit, but on the number of donors engaged. The shift reflects a broad and growing interest in engaging not only those wealthier individuals traditionally engaged in philanthropy, but a wider audience at the grassroots level as well.

In an interview in the New York Times, Jean Case, co-founder of the Case Foundation, explains:

“Philanthropy shouldn’t be defined as a bunch of rich people writing big checks. Small amounts of money given by large numbers of individuals can be combined to do great things.”

First Book, for one, is optimistic about the experiment. The lowest donation point in the challenge is $10. Which already alone places four brand new books into the hands of a child in need, sparking a lifelong love of reading.

Take a look: visit Facebook and help us prove that everyone has the power to make a difference.

Tags: casefoundation, causesgivingchallenge, facebook, viralphilanthropy

Billy and Sheena get to go to their uncle's house for the summer and he is a underwater scientist so they get to swim in the oceon a lot,but they aren't supposed to go in the coral reefs but Billy likes them so pretty and peaceful,he goes in there,but there is something dangerous and part human part underwater creature...

What don't like about the story is that on the cover it doesn't look like what it sounds it just look like a shark and that's all not something creepy and weird.What I do like about the book is that my mom loves underwater things and sea creatures so if I would show this book to my mom and she read it she would no exactly what to do if she was trapped with a shark.I think.

On April 17, the First Book Marketplace was awarded the Social Enterprise Innovation Award by the Social Enterprise Alliance and the Case Foundation.

This award, given to the organization “designing the most innovative model in the field of social enterprise,” was presented at the Social Enterprise Alliance’s 8th annual gathering in Long Beach, CA.

I was lucky enough to spend a several days at the gathering meeting other social entrepreneurs from across the country and around the world. From local innovators running small bakeries employing traditionally underserved employees in a single community to international organizations seeking millions of dollars in expansion capital, it was an exhilarating experience speaking with others harnessing the power of the private sector to advance social change.

To learn more, you can download a pdf about this year’s award winners.

Tags: FirstBook, FirstBookMarketplace, SocialEnterprise, SocialEnterpriseAlliance, ChandlerArnold

The Cause Marketing Forum (CMF) is the premier organization focused on Cause Marketing in the United States. Each year the CMF recognizes one private sector company and one social sector organization with their Golden Halo Award, celebrating outstanding achievement and leadership in the field of cause marketing. We are delighted to announce that First Book has been named the winner of this prestigious honor for 2007!

First Book was selected by CMF based on our history of leadership, creativity and effectiveness in working with corporate partners. We join the ranks of past winners such as the American Heart Association, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

First Book will be recognized at the 5th annual Cause Marketing Forum conference on Thursday, May 17th at The Crowne Plaza in Times Square in New York.

Tags: CauseMarketing, CauseMarketingForum, FirstBook