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New Hanover County, NC
About First Book
First Book provides new books to children in need, addressing one of the most important factors affecting literacy - access to books. An innovative leader in social enterprise, each year First Book distributes millions of free and low-cost books to disadvantaged children and the programs that serve them.
Since the number of books in the home significantly correlates with children's reading scores, First Book addresses this particular facet of the literacy challenge. First Book provides new books for these children to keep. Over the course of several months they build up their own home library. Age-appropriate books in the home also encourage family members to read together.
Our local Advisory Board, First Book-New Hanover County, was formed in August 2006. Local Advisory Boards are the gateway to free books for all kinds of programs that serve disadvantaged families in our area. Through us they learn about First Book resources and have local encouragement and oversight in their use of First Book grants. During 2006-2009 we distributed over $10000 in book grants. This translates to about 5000 new books. In 2010 alone we exceeded our fund-raising goal and reached $13,000. Our Board is actively recruiting volunteers that want to help meet the mission for First Book and to raise funds to support the purchase of new books. Since 2006 we have raised funds through: - Waldenbooks (closed 04/07)
- SunTrust Mortgage employees
- Giant Book Sale (closed 08/09)
- Blueberry Festivals
- Belk Charity Days ticket sales & sale day volunteers
- Barnes & Noble Holiday gift wrapping
- Pomegranate Books customers
- Two Sisters Bookery customers
- Individual donors
- Dragonflies Gifts customers
- Cheerios—Spoonful of Stories
- McAllister & Solomon Used Books customers
- Festival Latino
- Progressive Gardens customers
- Luna Pops customers
- Transplanted Garden customers
- Edward Jones customers
- Old Books on Front St. customers
- Board Member friends & family
Book Grant Recipients Since 2006 First Book -- New Hanover County Grants (and/or Borders Gift Cards) have been given to: - Bradley Creek Elementary School
- Anderson Elementary School
- College Park Elementary School
- Dorothy B. Johnson Elementary School
- Community Boys & Girls Club of Wilmington
- Cape Fear Literacy Council
- Hillcrest Reading Program
- Trask Middle School
- D.C. Virgo Middle School
- YWCA After-School
- Children's Museum of Wilmington
- Carolina Canines – Paws for Reading
- Smart Start New Hanover County
- UNCW Watson Junior Seahawk Academy
- Gregory School of Science & Technology
- Brigade Boys & Girls Club
- Walker-Wells Community Learning Center
- Holy Shelter Middle School
- Murray Middle School
- Williston Middle School
- Myrtle Grove Middle School
Local Sponsors and Donors We are able to provide brand-new, high-quality books to children in our community thanks to the generous financial contributions of local businesses and individuals like: - UNCW Ceramic Studio
- Corning
- Bargain Box
- Woman’s Club – Coastal Living Show
- Sorosis – Wilmington Chapter
- Wilmington Real Estate 4U
- Dr. Stephen Treman
- Landfall Foundation ($6000 for 6th Grade Gateway to Reading)
- Books-A-Million
First Book Wants You! We are looking for passionate, entrepreneurial people who want to make a difference in their community. Help us get books to kids who need them most. Contact Us You can contact us by sending an email.
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