Advisory Board Home  |   |   

Sioux Falls

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-Sioux Falls Advisory Board is a project of the members of The History Club. The History Club has been active in philanthropic activites in Sioux Falls since 1879, serving the community as a club whose members have always been dedicated to the ideals of promoting education and literacy in our community. The History Club was instrumental in the formation of the first public library in Sioux Falls.

First Book-Sioux Falls serves underserved children of Minnehaha County, including Sioux Falls and Brandon. The History Club also has volunteer relationships with a magnet English Language Learner school in Sioux Falls, Longfellow Elementary School, our clubhouse's neighborhood school. Members of the club support Longfellow’s Reading Program and serve in other volunteer capacities there. Spending time with the children in this wonderful school has convinced us of the need for getting books into the hands of as many of these children as possible. Books that they can own, allowing them to read a book over and over at home to their parents and younger sisters and brothers. A book that belongs to them.

Through the formation of a First Book-Sioux Falls Advisory Board we can make this a reality. We invite participation by other groups, businesses, and individuals, and we ask you to join us in our mission to make First Book work for the children in our city and South Dakota.

Help us reach our goal. Make a donation, and change a life today.

How to Receive Books

There are three ways in which First Book distributes books: through a network of volunteer Advisory Boards located across the country, through the First Book National Book Bank, and through the First Book Marketplace.

First Book-Sioux Falls provides new books to children through eligible community organizations like preschools, day care, after-school, and tutoring/mentoring programs. We accept book grant applications from local literacy programs that serve 70% or more children from low-income households. The children take home and keep the books that they receive.

First Book does not provide direct financial support, nor does it provide books to individuals or to book drives.

If you would like to learn more, please see Register with First Book.

For information on how to apply for a grant from our board, download the Grant Guidelines and Application (doc).

Book Grant Recipients

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.

Donor List - 2012

• Ms. Patricia Reagan   
• The History Club  
• Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation 
• Target 
• Sanford Health   
• Vern Eide Motorcars 
• Wells Fargo Bank – South Dakota Region     
• Beta Sigma Phi Sorority    

Recipient Groups for 2012: 2,184 Books to 421 Children

• Longfellow Elementary School; 68 Children; 544 Books   
• Youth Enrichment Services; 118  Children; 944 Books
• Multicultural Cultural Center – Native Reads Program; 60 Children; 240 Books
• Head Start of Sioux Falls; 68 Children; 136 Books
• Lowell Math Science Technology Elementary School; 57 Children; 170 Books
• Bowden Youth Center; 57 Children; 171 Books

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 Sioux Falls, please contact using the link below.

Contact Us

You can contact us by sending an email.