To the Staff at Reader to Reader,
My name is Amy Laurenza and I grew up in Hadley, where my parents still live. Five years ago I moved to New Orleans to teach, and for the last five years I have been teaching 9th and 10th grade reading. I am home for the holidays and I happened to be reading the local paper and read the article about the large shipment of books you sent down to New Orleans. I just wanted to express my sincere thanks and appreciation for your support of our students and children. It is such an amazingly generous thing, and it is so good to know that the struggles of my community are being addressed by such a generous organization!
Happy Holidays!
Amy Laurenza
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Smiling Faces!
Lots of smiles this holiday!Reader To Reader is pleased to announce that every pre-school and kindergarten student in the Chicopee School District, Chicopee, MA, has received their own copy of the Caldecott Honor book In a Small, Small Pond.
A thousand hardcover copies of the books were given out to the children in time for the holidays.
The delightful book by author Denise Fleming, gives children “a frog's eye view of the animals and insects that live in a freshwater pond. Life in the pond is observed throughout the seasons and is depicted via collage illustrations.”
Friday, December 18, 2009
New Orleans gets 150,000 books from local group
By Nick Grabbe
Staff Writer
Amherst Bulletin
Published on December 18, 2009
A local organization has arranged for 150,000 new children's books to be delivered to New Orleans children, whose schools are still recovering from Hurricane Katrina, in time for Christmas.
Reader to Reader has donated 2.8 million books to schools and libraries in needy areas, about half of them in New Orleans. This latest shipment of 150,000 books, which arrived Monday in two tractor trailers, was donated by Barnes & Noble.
"New Orleans is such a long-term project," said David Mazor, Reader to Reader's executive director.
"It had very resource-starved schools before Hurricane Katrina. It takes commitment over time to rebuild the resources and improve what they had before."
This delivery of books represents a new direction for Reader to Reader, which is based at the Cadigan Center for Religious Life at Amherst College, he said.
It's gone beyond scanning the rejects from used book sales, and is now working more with national retailers, he said.
Barnes & Noble officials approached Reader to Reader and asked for its help in arranging the shipment to New Orleans, timing the books' arrival and distribution, Mazor said.
He is currently negotiating with another national retailer for a similar project in another needy part of the U.S., he said.
The Barnes & Noble chairman and his wife have been active in building homes in New Orleans, Mazor said. The company is the world's largest bookseller, with 775 stores.
The 150,000 books are going to the Recovery School District of New Orleans, which has more than 37,000 students. The AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps is helping to distribute the books to schools in time for them to be given to students before the Christmas break.
"Our goal is to get at least one to every student," Mazor said.
Some stuffed animals were included in the shipment. The books are new and are not overstocked items, and appeal to all ages of school children, he said.
"This is the single biggest donation of new books and toys that we have ever made in one shipment," Mazor said.
In September, Reader to Reader donated books by children's author Mo Willems to every first- and second-grade student in the New Orleans district.
Staff Writer
Amherst Bulletin
Published on December 18, 2009
A local organization has arranged for 150,000 new children's books to be delivered to New Orleans children, whose schools are still recovering from Hurricane Katrina, in time for Christmas.
Reader to Reader has donated 2.8 million books to schools and libraries in needy areas, about half of them in New Orleans. This latest shipment of 150,000 books, which arrived Monday in two tractor trailers, was donated by Barnes & Noble.
"New Orleans is such a long-term project," said David Mazor, Reader to Reader's executive director.
"It had very resource-starved schools before Hurricane Katrina. It takes commitment over time to rebuild the resources and improve what they had before."
This delivery of books represents a new direction for Reader to Reader, which is based at the Cadigan Center for Religious Life at Amherst College, he said.
It's gone beyond scanning the rejects from used book sales, and is now working more with national retailers, he said.
Barnes & Noble officials approached Reader to Reader and asked for its help in arranging the shipment to New Orleans, timing the books' arrival and distribution, Mazor said.
He is currently negotiating with another national retailer for a similar project in another needy part of the U.S., he said.
The Barnes & Noble chairman and his wife have been active in building homes in New Orleans, Mazor said. The company is the world's largest bookseller, with 775 stores.
The 150,000 books are going to the Recovery School District of New Orleans, which has more than 37,000 students. The AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps is helping to distribute the books to schools in time for them to be given to students before the Christmas break.
"Our goal is to get at least one to every student," Mazor said.
Some stuffed animals were included in the shipment. The books are new and are not overstocked items, and appeal to all ages of school children, he said.
"This is the single biggest donation of new books and toys that we have ever made in one shipment," Mazor said.
In September, Reader to Reader donated books by children's author Mo Willems to every first- and second-grade student in the New Orleans district.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
150,000 Books…That’s Right, 150,000!
School Children in New Orleans Ring in Holidays with Mammoth Book Donation
150,000 Books and Plush Toys Donated by Barnes & Noble Through Literacy Organization Reader to Reader
Total Reader To Reader Book Donations to New Orleans Surpass 1.4 Million Since Hurricane Katrina
NEW ORLEANS, LA (December 12, 2009) – The school children of New Orleans have a special reason to celebrate this holiday season as they go home for vacation break with 150,000 books and plush toys donated by Barnes & Noble through the nonprofit literacy organization, Reader to Reader.
Over the past three years, Amherst, Massachusetts-based Reader to Reader has donated some 1.4 million books to schools in New Orleans and Louisiana to help rebuild resources lost in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
To welcome children back to school this past fall Reader to Reader donated books by award-winning children’s author Mo Willems to every first and second grade student in the Recovery School District of New Orleans.
This holiday season Reader to Reader is pleased to work with Barnes & Noble, the world's largest bookseller, to make a truly mammoth book donation. Two 18-wheel tractor trailers are delivering 48 pallets containing 150,000 books and plush toys to the Recovery School District of New Orleans. The shipment will arrive on Monday, December 14, 2009.
“This is the single biggest donation of new books and toys that we have ever made in one shipment,” says Reader to Reader founder and executive director, David Mazor. “Barnes & Nobles' extraordinary generosity will touch the hearts of many thousands of children. The work rebuilding resources lost from Hurricane Katrina is far from over, and we want to thank Barnes & Noble for recognizing the great need that still exists in New Orleans.”
“You may remember Reader to Reader from the Mo Willems Elephant and Piggie Book Project… well, they are back with a mission,” notes Troy Peloquin of the Recovery School District of New Orleans. "They are teaming up with Barnes & Noble to truck in two 18 wheelers, that’s 48 pallets, yes 150,000 books. Guess what I’m doing next week? Please raise a glass this season for Reader to Reader and Barnes & Noble. You make my job easy and challenging, heart warming and back breaking. For this, I thank you. You are righteous.”
AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) is very excited to help distribute these books to schools in time for them to be handed them out to students as festive gifts before break.
Leonard Riggio, chairman of Barnes & Noble, who along with his wife, Louise, founded Project Home Again (PHA) shortly after Hurricane Katrina, has continued to be very active in helping New Orleans rebuild. In October, the Riggios, PHA families, elected officials, representatives from the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (NORA) and the Louisiana Recovery Authority were on hand as PHA broke ground for 12 more homes in the Gentilly neighborhood in New Orleans. To date, PHA has built a total of 36 new homes with an additional 8 more homes under construction.
About Reader to Reader
Based on the campus of Amherst College in Amherst, MA, Reader to Reader, Inc. www.readertoreader.org is a non-profit organization that distributes books to schools and libraries in need. They have donated 2.8 million books to schools and libraries in need across the United States, and 1.4 million books to schools and libraries in New Orleans rebuilding from Hurricane Katrina.
150,000 Books and Plush Toys Donated by Barnes & Noble Through Literacy Organization Reader to Reader
Total Reader To Reader Book Donations to New Orleans Surpass 1.4 Million Since Hurricane Katrina
NEW ORLEANS, LA (December 12, 2009) – The school children of New Orleans have a special reason to celebrate this holiday season as they go home for vacation break with 150,000 books and plush toys donated by Barnes & Noble through the nonprofit literacy organization, Reader to Reader.
Over the past three years, Amherst, Massachusetts-based Reader to Reader has donated some 1.4 million books to schools in New Orleans and Louisiana to help rebuild resources lost in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
To welcome children back to school this past fall Reader to Reader donated books by award-winning children’s author Mo Willems to every first and second grade student in the Recovery School District of New Orleans.
This holiday season Reader to Reader is pleased to work with Barnes & Noble, the world's largest bookseller, to make a truly mammoth book donation. Two 18-wheel tractor trailers are delivering 48 pallets containing 150,000 books and plush toys to the Recovery School District of New Orleans. The shipment will arrive on Monday, December 14, 2009.
“This is the single biggest donation of new books and toys that we have ever made in one shipment,” says Reader to Reader founder and executive director, David Mazor. “Barnes & Nobles' extraordinary generosity will touch the hearts of many thousands of children. The work rebuilding resources lost from Hurricane Katrina is far from over, and we want to thank Barnes & Noble for recognizing the great need that still exists in New Orleans.”
“You may remember Reader to Reader from the Mo Willems Elephant and Piggie Book Project… well, they are back with a mission,” notes Troy Peloquin of the Recovery School District of New Orleans. "They are teaming up with Barnes & Noble to truck in two 18 wheelers, that’s 48 pallets, yes 150,000 books. Guess what I’m doing next week? Please raise a glass this season for Reader to Reader and Barnes & Noble. You make my job easy and challenging, heart warming and back breaking. For this, I thank you. You are righteous.”
AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) is very excited to help distribute these books to schools in time for them to be handed them out to students as festive gifts before break.
Leonard Riggio, chairman of Barnes & Noble, who along with his wife, Louise, founded Project Home Again (PHA) shortly after Hurricane Katrina, has continued to be very active in helping New Orleans rebuild. In October, the Riggios, PHA families, elected officials, representatives from the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (NORA) and the Louisiana Recovery Authority were on hand as PHA broke ground for 12 more homes in the Gentilly neighborhood in New Orleans. To date, PHA has built a total of 36 new homes with an additional 8 more homes under construction.
About Reader to Reader
Based on the campus of Amherst College in Amherst, MA, Reader to Reader, Inc. www.readertoreader.org is a non-profit organization that distributes books to schools and libraries in need. They have donated 2.8 million books to schools and libraries in need across the United States, and 1.4 million books to schools and libraries in New Orleans rebuilding from Hurricane Katrina.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
It’s people like you and your staff that make the world a better place
Dear Reader To Reader,
Thank you and your staff for the donation of books. It’s people like you and your staff that make the world a better place. The books will be used to help students enhance their reading skills and hopefully increase low test scores.
I know that you and your staff are helping a lot of low-scoring schools. May God bless all of you.
Sincerely,
Alma Bradley
Media Specialist
Central High School
West Helena, Arkansas
Thank you and your staff for the donation of books. It’s people like you and your staff that make the world a better place. The books will be used to help students enhance their reading skills and hopefully increase low test scores.
I know that you and your staff are helping a lot of low-scoring schools. May God bless all of you.
Sincerely,
Alma Bradley
Media Specialist
Central High School
West Helena, Arkansas
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Chicopee Children to Explore “In a Small, Small Pond”
There will be lots of happy young children this holiday in Chicopee, Massachusetts.Reader To Reader is proud to announce that every pre-school and kindergarten student in the Chicopee school district will be receiving their own hardcover copy of the Caldecott Honor book In a Small, Small Pond.
A thousand copies of the books will be given out to the children in time for the holidays.
The delightful book by author Denise Fleming, gives children “a frog's eye view of the animals and insects that live in a freshwater pond. Life in the pond is observed throughout the seasons and is depicted via collage illustrations.”
Reader To Reader would like to thank publisher Henry Holt and Co. for making this donation possible. The donation is also made possible due to the support of the Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation, FirstBook, Comcast, Chicopee Savings Bank, and the Xeric Foundation.
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