Donate to First Book SF This Holiday Season

Give the gift that keeps on giving:

The Gift of Reading!
 

Spread holiday cheer that brings families closer, builds essential skills, and lasts a lifetime.

Our coalition of early literacy advocates works directly with families in need to build home libraries because kids who read succeed!

Our partnership with First Book allows us to purchase brand new books for less than $3.00 each. Your tax-deductible contribution to our 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization will provide:
$25.00 donation = 8 books

$50.00 donation = 16 books
$100.00 donation = 33 books

$250.00 donation = 83 books
and will allow us to purchase and distribute incredible titles such as:


To Donate online:
Use the link at the top of our right hand sidebar or
click on the First Book Logo Below

(Please select San Francisco from the Gift Designation drop down list.)

  
To donate by check:
First Book - San Francisco, c/o Jude Deckenbach
368 Connecticut Street, San Francisco, CA 94107

Thanks,
Alex, Ande, Brian, Carla, Elmer, Irene, Jude, Kathy, Luanne, Lynne, Michael, Michele, and Michelle.

A Message from Kathy Katz

In preparation for our 20^th anniversary celebration I have been looking through our stacks and stacks of old photos and letters and endless computer files, reflecting on my many years with Children’s Book Project. What I realized is that It’s the people I’ve met that inspire me ‑— the endless stream of amazing people who work to improve our community. Their concern for Bay Area children and families. Their dedication to the never-ending struggle to keep the social service/nonprofit world alive. Teachers’ willingness to spend additional hours at CBP selecting books to improve their classroom and for their students to take home. Doctors bringing books to free clinics for their patients. Volunteers picking up books for homeless shelters and tutoring programs. And then there are all the wonderful people who collect the books that we can then distribute throughout the Bay Area and beyond. Over 100,000 books donated to us every year. Definitely something to celebrate!
Kathy CBP

 

5:30pm - 7:30pm, Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Latino / Hispanic Meeting Room, Lower Level

San Francisco Main Library, 100 Larkin Street

Let's Celebrate 20 Years of Children's Book Project!

Gentle Readers,

San Francisco's absolutely beloved Children's Book Project is 20 years old this year!

They are too humble to make much about it but we at First Book San Francisco, the San Francisco Early Literacy Network, and San Francisco Public Library are so appreciative of their exceptional work and the profound positive difference they make in so many lives that we are throwing them a party. Please join us and show them how much you love them. See you there, Brian

(Click invite to view at full size)

5:30pm - 7:30pm, Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Latino / Hispanic Meeting Room, Lower Level

San Francisco Main Library, 100 Larkin Street

Thanks for summer vacations and old friends...disproving yet again that in fact, you can go home again

I have just returned from two weeks of heat and humidity.
No, I wasn't in the tropics.  I was in the lovely Midwest.... my old stomping grounds.  As family lore has it, once I was old enough to know better, I said to my parents, "You mean we don't have to live here?"
The cold, endless winters and long, mosquito filled summers got the best of me.  I moved away when I went to college and never looked back.  Except of course for every year when I would return to visit family and friends.  As the years have passed, both my family and my friends' families have expanded.  I love hanging out with them all and I have to admit, a lemon lime arctic freeze from Dairy Queen is on my top ten list.

This year I experienced an added bonus.  A $5K bonus to be exact.  My friend from HS runs the RBC Dain Rauscher Foundation - the community foundation arm of RBC Wealth Management.  Martha, and RBC has always been a big supporter of the underdog.  When I told Martha about the number of children that First Book - SF LAB gives books to - these books are often the first to be owned by the kids - she immediately jumped on board.  When I got back to SF after my trip not only was the blessed fog waiting for me but so was the check.

Thanks Martha and RBC Wealth Management - you guys rock!  You've made so many kids so happy.

Tell Me That Story...

 

For  over eight years now, I have been a classroom volunteer at Up On Top (upontop.org), an after school program and summer program for low income children in San Francisco. One of my favorite parts of being in the classroom is helping the children choose from books that were obtained through a First Book grant. Many times it is through our program that children experience going to the library. So while they understand they can take the books from First Book home, they are surprised when I explain that they are theirs to keep and they don’t need to bring them back.

Youssef, a second grader, spent quite some time looking through many books before finding the ones that were “just right” for him. He asked me if these books were from me.  I said no, and showed him the bookplate that said “First Book.” I explained that several years ago, people got together and wanted to make sure that every child in the country had their own books in their homes. I said that I was just one of many people who donated money so that he could pick out books.

When I got to the classroom the next week, I sat down to help Youssef with his homework. We looked through the math, spelling and reading assignments, and he decided which he would tackle first.  Then, he turned to me and asked, “And then would you tell me that story again about the people that buy books for us, but don’t even know us?”

Warm regards, Luanne Schulte

Current Board Members

Active Board Members as of December 13, 2011

Michael Andolina
- Education Director, Jamestown Community Center San Francisco

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

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

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

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

Carla Hatley
- Coordinator, San Francisco BookPALS Program

Performing Artists for Literacy in Schools, Screen Actors Guild Foundation

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

Elmer Owens, PhD
- Retired Speech Pathologist, UC San Francisco
- Volunteer, Up on Top After School Tutoring Program
 

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

Looking for the perfect holiday gift?

Give the Gift of Reading!

Many Bay Area kids don’t own books. Let’s change that!

Our coalition of early literacy advocates works directly with families in need to build home libraries.

Kids who read succeed.

Our partnership with First Book allows us to purchase brand new books for less than $3.00 each. Your tax-deductible contribution to our 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization will provide:

$25.00 donation = 8 books $50.00 donation = 16 books

$100.00 donation = 33 books $250.00 donation = 83 books

Your contribution will allow us to purchase and distribute incredible titles such as:

Donations by check: First Book – San Francisco c/o Jude Deckenbach, 368 Connecticut Street, San Francisco, CA 94107

Donate online through the link on our blog sidebar: www.firstbooksf.blogspot.com

or directly

https://secure3.convio.net/book/site/Donation2?df_id=1344&1344.donation=form1&JServSessionIdr004=au0n1g0p42.app340a

(Please make sure to select San Francisco under the Gift Designation drop down list)

Thank you for your continued support!

 

Carla, Kathy, Ande, Michael, Luanne, Elmer, Jude, and Brian

Mother's Day

Spreading the love....isn't that what your mama did with you? In honor of all mothers we sent out a direct mail piece for Mother's Day which generated a great response - thanks to everyone for donating to First Book SF to honor your mom or someone special for mother's day. And if you didn't get a chance to donate yet - remember, it's never too late!

To donate to SF First Book online:
https://secure3.convio.net/book/site/Donation2?df_id=1344&1344.donation=form1&JServSessionIdr004=au0n1g0p42.app340a

Best Regards, Jude

World Wide Recognition for Children's Book Project through O Magazine

Hey Early Literacy Lovers,

Children's Book Project was highlighted in the March issue of O Magazine - here is what they say:

 

"Goodnight Moon—or Twilight

The Children's Book Project has helped thousands of disadvantaged children learn to read by giving more than 1.5 million books to schools, homeless shelters, and community centers. Any gently used children's book can be donated—whether a board book for infants or a novel for teens."

To view the article online click here O Magazine / Children's Book Project (the link in the article mistakenly points to another non-profit's website.)

Let's all donate our gently used books to Children's Book Project (www.childrensbookproject.org) - they'll even take your gently used money.

We're in the Money!

Thank you everyone for helping us meet our fundraising goal in 2010! We had our most successful direct mail campaign ever - which raised over $5K in three weeks.

And it's only just begun.

We will be awarding book grants to our recipient groups by the end of March.

Stay tuned for details on our next event in the spring.

Direct Mail Letter Going Out Soon

Gentle Reader,
The First Book - San Francisco board members are in the process of mailing and e-mailing a fundraising letter providing basic information about our early literacy services as well as contact information for those who are in a position to provide financial support. A copy of this letter is posted below (click on it to view it full size). Thank you for your interest in, and support of, increased literacy services for our community.
Best regards, Brian

(Click on image above to view full size.)

Active Board Members, November 22, 2010

Active Board Members as of November 22, 2010

Michael Andolina
- Education Director, Jamestown Community Center San Francisco

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

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

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

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

Carla Hatley
- Coordinator, San Francisco BookPALS Program

Performing Artists for Literacy in Schools, Screen Actors Guild Foundation

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

Elmer Owens, PhD
- Retired Speech Pathologist, UC San Francisco
- Volunteer, Up on Top After School Tutoring Program
 

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

Board Members as of July 1, 2010

Active Board Members as of July 1, 2010

Michael Andolina
- Academic Director, Jamestown Community Center San Francisco

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

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

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

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

Carla Hatley
- Coordinator, San Francisco BookPALS Program

Performing Artists for Literacy in Schools, Screen Actors Guild Foundation

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

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

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

First Book SF Event at Sunrise Restaurant on May 13, 2010

(Click on the image above if you wish to view a larger size)

Please, join us for delicious Latin American food and fun. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to First Book –San Francisco.

When: Thursday, May 13, 5-7:30pm

Where: Sunrise Restaurant, 3126 24th Street (between Folsom and Shotwell) (415) 206-1219

First Book – San Francisco is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status coalition of early literacy advocates bringing books and other learning materials into the hands, homes, and hearts of some of San Francisco’s most underserved families. Research clearly shows that access to books is essential to reading development and success in school. The portion of this event’s proceeds donated to us will allow us to purchase new books and continue reaching out to the alarming number of Bay Area children who have no books in their homes.

We thank you for supporting our ongoing mission to share the joy and power that reading brings. As Guadalupe Elementary School student Marina M. said as she embraced a new batch of books from us:

"I love books! Anything can happen if you read!”

First Book - San Francisco,
c/o The Reading Tree, 368 Connecticut Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
www.firstbooksf.blogspot.com

Read Tree Event Was Fabulous

Here are 5 photos I nabbed at the festive Reading Tree event at the Laurel Village Books Inc. Enjoy.

Reading Tree Event on Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Gentle Reader,
Please click on the image above to see a large (and printable) JPG image of the poster for the super delicious event in support of The Reading Tree at the Laurel Village Books Inc. on Wednesday, December 2 from 6-8pm. Click here to go to The Reading Tree website.

Children's Book Project Party Tonight June 4, 2009

(Click image above for more information)

Hey Folks,
It is Children's Book Project Party Season. There is a great event tonight in collaboration with Mission Street Food, Broken Record, and St. Mary's Center. Follow this link for all the details http://blog.missionstreetfood.com.
Have a great time. Brian

Children's Book Project Party June 6, 2009

Dear Friend,

I am throwing a party for all my friends and my favorite San Francisco non-profit, the Children's Book Project.

Our big celebration of the Children's Book Project (CBP) will be on Saturday, June 6th, 7:30pm to 1:00am, at a large soundstage at 3075 17th Street, between Folsom and Harrison. Please have a look at the attached flyer.

This is a party you won't soon forget, with lots of music, dancing, and entertainment.

The Children's Book Project was founded to meet the enormous need for children's books. Since its beginning in 1992, the project has given well over 1,000,000 free books to hundreds of Bay Area facilities serving many thousands of children. The CBP goal for 2009 is to distribute well over 150,000 carefully selected children's books. Please visit www.childrensbookproject.org.

Thanks,
Andy Pollack

PS If you are unable to attend the benefit, please consider making a tax-deductible donation. Checks can be mailed to Children's Book Project, 45 Holly Park Circle, San Francisco, CA, 94110. You can also give online by going to the CBP website and pressing the donate button. At a time when schools have even less funding for classroom libraries and parents have even less money to pay for books, your contribution is particularly needed.

Wine Mondays (The Reading Tree)

Everybody needs a good whine on Monday and so The Reading Tree invited our friends to join with us at Books, Inc. on Monday, December 8th to celebrate the publication of our Board Member Christie Matheson's Wine Mondays.


We had a very successful event, sold over $300 worth of raffle tickets and $7,000 worth of books! Christie sold out of her book. Lots of friends did all their holiday shopping and requested that we make it an annual event so stay tuned for details.
keep reading,
Jude Deckenbach

Board Members as of February 24, 2008

Active Board Members as of February 24, 2009
(11 members, alphabetical by first name)

Alayne Stieglitz
- Site Supervisor, Holy Family Day Home

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

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

Christina Burgess
- San Francisco Early Literacy Manager Jumpstart

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

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