First Book SF at Fair Oaks Street Fair May 10

As summer approaches, perhaps you are remembering fondly summer days when you had plenty of free time for all your summer activities, including reading your favorite books. Perhaps you grew up in a home filled with books, where owning and reading books was a part of your family culture. However, that is not the norm in many homes across the Bay Area.

First Book San Francisco is committed to change that, by providing books to low income children that otherwise would not have access to such treasures. First Book San Francisco is hosting a book drive in May to obtain gently used children’s books and funding to purchase new children’s books at cost. It is particularly easy for Noe Valley residents to be involved. Collection bags for gently used children’s books are located at Noe Valley Pediatrics, Noe Valley Ministry, Starbucks, and Wells Fargo Bank. At Wells Fargo Bank, monetary donations will be accepted as well. Because First Book is a nonprofit, all donations are tax deductible.

Are you planning on attending the 33rd Annual Fair Oaks Street Fair on Saturday, May 10? (All good shoppers and bargain hunters mark it on their calendars every year!) If so, you can drop off books, cash and checks at the First Book booth in front of 217 Fair Oaks the day of the sale.

May you have leisurely summer days ahead to read or reread a favorite book!

Sincerely, Luanne Shulte

Active Board Members as of February 4, 2008

Active Board Members as of February 4, 2008
(13 members, alphabetical by first name)

Andrea "Ande" Elzie
- Retired Child Development Instructor, City College of San Francisco
- Volunteer, Child Development Center and Family Studies Department
City College of San Francisco

Andrea Robb
- Site Supervisor, Holy Family Day Home

Betsy Keever
- Director, San Francisco Raising a Reader

Brian Castagne
- Families for Literacy Coordinator/Computer Lab Coordinator
Project Read of the San Francisco Public Library

Carla Hatley
- Program Coordinator, Screen Actors Guild Foundation BookPals

Elmer Owens
- Retired Speech Pathologist, University of California, San Francisco
- Volunteer, Up on Top After School Tutoring Program

Irene Blum
- Retired Reading Teacher and Elementary Education Specialist
- Volunteer, Children’s Book Project

Jo Keroes
- Professor of English (emirata), San Francisco State University

Jude Deckenbach
- National Liaison, First Book San Francisco
- Executive Director, The Reading Tree

Luanne Schulte
- Speech Pathologist
- Volunteer, Up on Top After School Tutoring Program

Lynne Maes
- Program Coordinator, San Francisco Raising a Reader

Kathy Katz
- Programs Manager, The Children's Book Project

Michael Andolina
- San Francisco Early Literacy Coordinator, Jumpstart Western Region