Advisory Board Home  |   |   

Portland, OR

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.

The First Book Portland, OR Advisory Board was formed in 1998 to serve children from low-income families in Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties. Our Board is comprised of volunteer leaders representing non-profit agencies, businesses and the community.

Since our inception, we have granted nearly 47,000 brand new books to programs in the Tri-County area through our yearly grant cycles. So far in 2013, we granted over $5,000 in new books to six local agencies so that children in their programs can build their first home libraries. These book grants were made possible through local fundraising efforts by First Book-Portland and through the support of local businesses.

In 2012, we partnered with local companies Burgerville and Hopworks for profit-sharing events and hosted a pub quiz at the County Cork Public House. Our larger events included “Breweries for Books” (a family-friendly afternoon pub-crawl in partnership with Coalition and Migrations breweries featuring games, trivia and prizes for our guests) and "Wine-ing for Literacy" (a wine tasting and silent auction hosted by the law firm Markowitz, Herbold, Glade & Mehlhaf). We hope to build on these events in 2013 and seek new ways to engage and expand our support within the community.

What can you do to support youth literacy in the Portland Tri-County area? Contact us, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter  to find out more.

Book Grant Recipients

Is your organization in need of books for the children you serve?  We make grant awards once per year in March. Grant application and guidelines are in the How to Receive Books section of this website.

First Book-Portland has given book grants to many programs throughout the Tri-County area. A typical book grant lasts for a six month period and offers each child in the program a steady diet of books (usually one book per month), all at no cost to the program. Because program administrators select the titles from the First Book Marketplace, our book grants enable programs — often for the first time — to select books to integrate into curriculum.

In March 2013, First Book-Portland awarded book grants to the following organizations:

• Adelante Mujeres
• Bridging Cultures
• Human Solutions
• Latino Network
• Lutheran Community Services Northwest
• Native American Rehabilitation Association

Local Sponsors and Donors

Through the purchasing power of the First Book Marketplace, just $2.50 provides a new book to a child in need.  With a $10 donation, we will be able to provide 4 books to establish a child’s first home library.

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.

• Burgerville
• Hopworks Urban Brewery
• Coalition Brewing
• Migration Brewing
• Floating World Comics
• Shane Designs Hawaii
• Lady Bird Bakery
• Black Wagon
• Roots Bodywork
• Quizzical Empire
• County Cork Public House
• Markowitz, Herbold, Glade & Mehlhaf
• Many community members, family and friends

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.  To learn more about volunteering with First Book-Portland please contact using the link below.

Contact Us

You can contact us by sending an email.