Studio Blog
Guest blogger Greg Perlstein is the Coordinator of Strategic Alliances at First Book, a nonprofit that provides new books to children in need. Demand Studios is partnering with First Book this December to bring thousands of books to the kids who need them most.
Eighty percent of preschool and after-school programs serving low-income children have zero age-appropriate books for their children. These children desperately need educational resources, and First Book cannot reach all of the kids alone. We partner with dedicated individuals, other nonprofits doing great work to combat illiteracy, and companies whose employees are committed to educating and empowering the next generation. When these partnerships begin because a group approaches us and says, “We want to help!” we are especially inspired and incredibly grateful.
Demand Studios came to us earlier this year with a proposal to launch the “Write for a Cause” campaign. For every eight articles written and approved during December, Demand Studios is donating a book to a child in need. After just one week, Demand Studios has donated an amazing 2,817 books, blowing away our previous best estimates of what this campaign could do!
During the past 17 years, First Book has donated over 65 million books to children from low-income populations. We provide resources to over 21,000 school and community-based programs. The new books that you are providing are incorporated into lessons, used to expand educators’ curricula, and given to the children to keep as their very own. By submitting articles this month, you are making a tangible difference in the lives of children. Our First Book team is extremely appreciative of your support for our mission.
Currently, First Book is working with Cheerios to sponsor the 100,000 Book Giveaway, which will grant 20,000 new books to the five states with the most votes in the contest. Together with Verizon and Random House Children’s Books, we are raising money and donating new books through the Season’s Readings campaign. Our annual work with Target and Heart of America resulted in over 1,700 school libraries receiving new books this year. And now, thanks to the Demand Studios community and the Write for a Cause campaign, we will reach thousands more children with new books of their own.
Kyle Zimmer, co-founder, President and CEO of First Book, recently shared with me one of her favorite First Book stories. A few years back, she was distributing new books from a warehouse in Ohio when a young boy from a First Book recipient group came running up to her, asking if she had any Spanish books to give away. Since the boy was just six or seven years old, Kyle was impressed that he would already have learned Spanish. She said, “Do you speak Spanish?” and the boy replied, “No ma’am, but I know that it’s out there, and this is my big chance to learn!” Thank you for helping to give thousands of children their “big chance” this December.
For more information about First Book’s partnership with Demand Studios, please click here. To donate to First Book, please visit our donation page.
