I am having the Best Month Ever

This week, I was named one of L'Oreal's 2015 Women of Worth. The words that come to mind don't seem sufficient to describe what this means... to me, to Books for Keeps.  I'm honored, but you know all I really care about is making the most of this opportunity to expand Books for Keeps.

L'Oreal sent a film crew here to make a video.  What an experience!

And here is the 30-second version of the actual video.

But you know what the best part was? Listening in on the interviews they did with folks other than me. I thought I would hear stories about Books for Keeps and the impact it's having - and I did - but there was so much more.

Some highlights:

A school counselor mentioning how, most of the time, children from low-income families feel "Less Than" but on Books for Keeps day, they are "Same As." There wasn't a dry eye in the room.

That same counselor said that teachers can become desensitized to the gaps in these children's needs, but that Books for Keeps has inspired them that simple solutions to help the child right in front of them are still worth doing.

Two of our volunteers, who are retired, mentioned that volunteering for Books for Keeps gives them a sense of worth... proves that retirees still have value and something to contribute to society.

The school superintendent, Dr. Phil Lanoue, brought up the sacrifice my family made for three years to make Books for Keeps a reality. By "family" that means my husband Bayne. He was our sole income during that time, so that I could focus.  He is the unsung hero of Books for Keeps.

Dr. Jennifer Graff described the enormity of the challenge we faced. She said
"When Melaney approached me about her plan to turn our study into a program, I thought to myself, 'We had eight paid staff, millions of dollars in funding and a publisher handling fulfillment – and she wants to do this with none of those?!”

WE DID IT! And we're still doing it.


And the children. One described using his BFK books to teach himself better English. Another was so proud to have learned more words, bigger words, by reading her BFK books.  We're looking for a bookshelf for one student who has nowhere to store his books. We gave our student interviewees a special bag of books to say thank you, and their faces lit up like it was Christmas.

I tried to describe all this for Bayne, and all I could come up with was "soul restoring." It was like getting a preview of what people will say about you at your funeral.  

With all that said, my perspective hasn't changed.  I get so much credit for Books for Keeps. Yes, I worked hard. But what I really did was ask for help, and people said YES. One book, one hour, one dollar, one Facebook post.  These individual actions are Books for Keeps.  We are proof of what happens when you stop asking "Why doesn't somebody do something about this?" and start declaring "I am somebody. I can do something about this."

I hope you will vote - every day - for Books for Keeps to receive the $25,000 L'Oreal Women of Worth grant. More books for more children - that's all that matters.  

The Ride Home from Winterville

Joe Hill, Books for Keeps' treasurer, shares one of his favorite BFK stories.  Thanks Joe!

On my way home from my book distribution shift at Winterville Elementary this past May, I got caught behind the school bus and spent a good 20 minutes watching kids get dropped off at their bus stops. 

Every one of them carried a bright yellow Books for Keeps tote bag. Some of the smaller kids looked about as big as their bags.  Some struggled a little under the weight of 12 big board books.  But every child I saw was wearing a huge smile.

As the kids ran home to show their parents their new books, I tried to imagine as a parent what my reaction would be.  I spent the morning with these children – I saw how excited they all were about reading and comparing books with friends.  They couldn’t wait to get home and share the experience with their families. It’s exactly the kind of experience I hope my own children will have in school.  Most of the time my kids don’t want to recount their school day with me, but when they are excited enough about something to share, it is like winning the lottery – and on this day, the parents of Winterville Elementary students hit the jackpot along with their children.

It’s easy to forget during the rest of the year what the payoff is for Books for Keeps’ program.  Most of the rest of the year is spent in meetings, hundreds of phone calls, thousands of emails, fundraising events, book drives, and sweating in the warehouse. I block out several days on my calendar to be a part of the volunteer shifts at the schools, because that is where you witness the joy as children find great books that ignite their imaginations.

Momentum! $13,000 pledged, $37,000 to go.

It's fun to get the mail when you're greeted by checks instead of bills! And packages from Carrie, who has been mailing books on our wish list for five years now.  (Thanks Carrie!)

In other news, Celia Baker of IntelliGRACS Group is not only offering to match $5,000 in donations, she's working her contacts to try and raise an additional $10,000 to sponsor an entire school.

There is so much momentum building at Books for Keeps! You can feel it in the air. (Wait - maybe that's the start of football season?) So excited about the what the future holds for this tiny-but-mighty organization!

Please tell somebody what I'm trying to do. Your Facebook page is a mighty powerful tool.

Fundraising for Introverts (a.k.a. "PLEASE- don't make me host a gala ball.")

I've got to pick up the pace to have any hope of raising $50,000 by my 50th birthday, so I asked some fundraising friends for advice on things I might try.

My mouth went dry and my palms started to sweat.  I don't go to parties! I am terrible at small talk! I live in sweat pants! So I'm trying something new:

Help me raise $50,000 by my 50th birthday, and I will NOT hold a gala ball, cocktail party, or golf tournament. No caterers or facilities taking a chunk of the proceeds. Just you and me, helping children who cannot help themselves.  Will you NOT attend?

-------   To receive YOUR "Get Out of Gala Balls Free" card:   -------

Make a donation to Books for Keeps, with "Mel's 50th" in the memo line. Donate online or by check. (PO Box 49761 Athens, GA 30604.)  Then kick back and relax in the knowledge that no gala ball invitation will arrive in your mailbox - and that you've done something good to help children in need.

My Books for Keeps Story - Julie McGinty

In the process of helping Books for Keeps serve children in need, board member Julie McGinty had an "AHA!" moment about how to help her own daughter be a better reader.  Thanks for sharing your story, Julie!

When I joined the Books for Keeps board two years ago, I never imagined that I would learn to be a better mom to my "reluctant reader" in the process.  I wasn’t a big reader growing up; I’m sure I read books, but I don’t remember many.  I was determined that my daughter would be a reader, so I made a habit of purchasing age-appropriate books for her as she learned to read independently.

Time and time again I chose books I knew were popular with children her age - and she refused to read them.  She stuck with the very simple picture books which she had read at least 20 times.  I was frustrated. People told me she would catch on when she was ready, so I stepped back for a while.

I joined the Books for Keeps board around this time. During my first book distribution in May 2014, I saw children browsing the books and making their own choices about what to read.  Volunteers were asking them "What do you want to read this summer?" and helping them find books that matched their interests.  Many of them were excited over a book titled "Baby Mouse."  I looked it over and it wasn’t necessarily a book that I would purchase for my daughter, but I thought I’d give it a try.

I took my daughter to Barnes & Noble that same day. Instead of choosing books for her, I showed her Baby Mouse and other great books I had seen that day, and told her to pick out $25 worth of books that piqued her interest.  She chose three Baby Mouse books and that was that. She read and re-read those books, with no encouragement or reminders from me!

Then she told me other books she liked at her school library and more books she wanted to read.  My reluctant reader was developing a love of reading! It finally clicked with me that the key principle we follow at Books for Keeps applies to my own child as well:  if we want children to read, we must give them books they want to read.   Self-selection is key.

Thank you, Books for Keeps, for the thousands of books you place in the hands of children each year - but also for helping me learn how to help my “reluctant” reader to become a “willing” reader.

Six years ago, this little blog started something mighty. Can we work another miracle?

Six years ago, I used this blog to appeal for help when I met a little girl who loved to read, but was facing a summer without books. Not a single book in her home, and no access to the public library. Her teacher told me that many of her classmates were in the same boat, and would fall behind in school as a result.

I asked for help, and a miracle occurred. Family, friends, book lovers, and regular folks all over the U.S. responded, and the result was Books for Keeps, a research-based program that gives away 45,000 books each year to prevent summer slide. This video tells the story better than I ever could.

I’m hoping this blog still holds its magic. Because here it goes: another request for help, six years later.

I’m trying to raise $50,000 by my 50th birthday, to reach more children. I’ve got til the end of November, but hey, I’ll be 50 for a whole year so let’s see how it goes. My late start is due mostly to fear of failure, but I'm taking the leap.

Like last time, my first step is to ask for help. I hope you will. Here are some ideas:

Make a donation. If just 200 people were willing to contribute $250 each, I could call it a day! But I’ll take any amount, and make it count.  Click here to donate now or mail a check payable to Books for Keeps to PO Box 49761, Athens GA 30604. (Whether online or check, please put “Mel’s 50th”in the memo line.)

Tell somebody. Books for Keeps got where it is today because the word spread. Share our video, with a link to this blog post, and let's get something started.

Hit up your boss. Ask your employer to become a sponsor. $600 will purchase the books for an entire class.

Introduce me. Could I come tell the BFK story to a group at your church or workplace?

Turn a hobby into books for children. Think about what you like to do, and see if there's an opportunity to turn it into a small fundraiser: A wine tasting, a tennis round robin, a bake sale, a golf outing...send pictures and I'll share them.

Involve a group. Book clubs, your department at work, civic groups, tennis teams, sororities...

Can you imagine spending an entire summer sitting at home, with nothing to read? Many of the children we serve know what it’s like. It’s hard to describe the joy in the room when these children come to select their books, but this captures it pretty well.

More books for more children in more Athens schools, more Georgia cities and towns. Please help me make this a reality. Don't focus on what you can't do; think of what you CAN do. You'll come up with something, trust me. Books for Keeps is living proof of what happens when people stop saying "Why doesn't somebody DO something about this?" and start saying "I am somebody. I will do something about this."

Why I support Books for Keeps: Becky Blackwell

Becky Blackwell, a new Books for Keeps supporter, tells the story of why she was so quick to support our organization - after only learning of it yesterday. Thanks Becky!

I was very excited to learn about ‘Books for Keeps’ yesterday.  The program really resonated with me because I benefited from a similar program when I was in kindergarten over 35 years ago, and I still remember the impact it had on me. 

Through a local literacy program, I had the opportunity to pick out a book that I could take home and keep – not just for the night or for the week, but really keep!  I soon became an avid reader which kept me busy for the many days I was home alone while Mom was at work.  This was the first book I owned, and it's a vivid and cherished memory to this day.

I’m confident the children you are now sending home with brand new books will feel the same.  And I hope that the lasting impact on their lives will be similar to mine.  Thank you for doing the work you are doing!

--Becky Blackwell