Advisory Board Home  |   |   

University of Maryland, College Park

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.

Established in 2004, First Book-University of Maryland, College Park has grown quickly. We have granted over 6,000 books to eight organizations, and are always looking for new groups to give to. We are currently focusing on recruiting eager new members, so please contact us for more info! We are also looking forward to becoming more actively involved with our recipient groups through book distribution parties or tutoring sessions. In addition, we are always thinking of new ways to raise money for purchasing books and are hoping to organize a benefit concert in College Park in the near future. If you are passionate about fighting illiteracy in our area, we would love to have your help!

Book Grant Recipients

First Book-University of Maryland, College Park has given book grants to many programs in the Washington D.C. metro 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 through First Book catalogs, our book grants enable programs — often for the first time — to select books to integrate into curriculum.

The following are some of the organizations that have received book grants from First Book-University of Maryland, College Park .

• Community of Hope
• Everybody Wins! DC
• CentroNia
• Little Lights Urban Ministries
• Martha's Table
• DC Scores
• Horton's Kids 
• Washington Jesuit Academy

Find out how to Receive Books for your organization.

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:

• Borders
• College Perk Coffeehouse
• South Street Steaks
• California Tortilla
• SunTrust Mortgage
• Noodles
• University of Maryland Book Exchange
• University of Maryland Bookstore

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.