First Book

Last updated

First Book is a nonprofit organization established in 1992 with the goal of ensuring quality education access for all children in North America. The organization works to remove education barriers and provide equitable opportunities for under-represented children. The First Book Network, consisting of over 575,000 educators and professionals, drives their initiatives by sharing insights and challenges. First Book's mission is stated as "First Book is dedicated to ensuring that all children, regardless of their background or zip code, can succeed, by removing barriers to equitable education." [1] [2] [3]

Contents

First Book has offices in Washington, D.C., and Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Formation1992
FounderKyle Zimmer
(President and CEO)
Peter Gold
Elizabeth Arky
Location

History

First Book President and CEO Kyle Zimmer founded First Book with Peter Gold and Elizabeth Arky in 1992 to be a market-driven solution to the lack of books in the schools and programs serving children from under-resourced neighborhoods. First Book has grown to serve more than 575,000 educators working in Title I or Title I-eligible programs. [4]

Programs

First Book distributes books through its Marketplace, as well as through other programs and initiatives. [5]

First Book Network: The First Book Network is a membership program made up of more than 575,000 educators and professionals who serve kids in under-resourced communities. People who work in Title I-eligible schools, early childhood programs, after school programs, shelters, clinics, churches, or any other organization where at least 70 percent of kids come from low-income families, are eligible to become a First Book member. [6]

First Book Marketplace: The nonprofit offers an eCommerce platform which allows qualified members to purchase books and resources at discounted pricing. [7]

First Book Research & Insights: The organization gathers data from educators to guide the development of programs, partnerships, and resources. [8]

First Book Accelerator: First Book works with experts to turn research into teaching resources. [9] [10]

Reviews and awards

Kyle Zimmer has been honored as a DC Alpha Alumna Initiate of the Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women (2019), the Texas AFT's Child Advocate Award (2019) and EY Entrepreneur of the Year® 2017 Award-Mid-Atlantic Region. Other awards include the Jefferson Award for Outstanding Public Service Benefitting the Disadvantaged (2016), Peggy Charren/Free to Be You and Me Award from the Ms. Foundation for Women (2016), the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading Pacesetter Honors (2016), the Library of Congress David M. Rubenstein Prize (2015), the National Book Foundation's Literarian Award (2014) and the National Education Association Foundation's Award for Outstanding Service to Public Education (2013), the Carle Honors Angel Award (2009) and the Authors Guild Award for Distinguished Service to the Literary Community (2005). From 2004 – 2008, Fast Company named Kyle one of 45 Social Entrepreneurs Who Are Changing the World. The organization has been reviewed favorably by Charity Navigator and the BBB Wise Giving Alliance as a trustworthy institution.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Book Award</span> American literary awards

The National Book Awards (NBA) are a set of annual U.S. literary awards. At the final National Book Awards Ceremony every November, the National Book Foundation presents the National Book Awards and two lifetime achievement awards to authors. The National Book Awards were established in 1936 by the American Booksellers Association, abandoned during World War II, and re-established by three book industry organizations in 1950. Non-U.S. authors and publishers were eligible for the pre-war awards. Since then they are presented to U.S. authors for books published in the United States roughly during the award year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reading Is Fundamental</span> US non-profit organization

Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF) is the oldest and largest non-profit children's literacy organization in the United States. RIF provides books and reading resources to children nationwide with supporting literacy resources for educators, families, and community volunteers.

The American Horticultural Society (AHS) is a nonprofit, membership-based organization that promotes American horticulture. It is headquartered at River Farm in Alexandria, Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benetech</span> American non-profit organization

Benetech is a nonprofit social enterprise organization that empowers communities with software for social good. Previous projects include the Route 66 Literacy Project, the Miradi environmental project management software, Martus, and the Human Rights Data Analysis Group. Current program areas include global education, human rights, and poverty alleviation.

The Cambodia Project (CPI) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to develop secondary education opportunities for underserved children in rural Cambodia. The Cambodia Project, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization recognized under the Internal Revenue Code of the United States, Public Charity Status 170(b)(1)(A)(vi).

The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) is a free library program of braille and audio materials such as books and magazines circulated to eligible borrowers in the United States and American citizens living abroad by postage-free mail and online download. The program is sponsored by the Library of Congress. People may be eligible if they are blind, have a visual disability that prevents them from reading normal print, or a physical disability that keeps them from holding a book. Library materials are distributed to regional and subregional libraries and then circulated to eligible patrons. In total there are 55 regional libraries, 32 subregional libraries, and 14 advisory and outreach centers serving the United States and its territories: the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam.

The My Hero Project is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization established in 1995 by philanthropist Karen Pritzker, Jeanne Meyers and Rita Stern Milch that promotes the sharing of positive role models from around the world for the online digital storytelling project. By 2013, it reached 194 countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Museo Pambata</span> Childrens museum in Manila, Philippines

The Museo Pambata or the Children's Museum, is a children's museum in the Ermita district of Manila, near Rizal Park, in the Philippines. It is located in the former Elks Club Building, built in 1910, along Roxas Boulevard at the corner of South Drive.

Out Teach builds outdoor learning labs in low-income schools and then spends years training teachers to use the garden to improve Math, Science, and Language Arts instruction. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, founded in Fort Worth, Texas, with additional offices in Washington, D.C..

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common Sense Media</span> American nonprofit organization

Common Sense Media (CSM) is an American nonprofit organization that reviews and provides ratings for media and technology with the goal of providing information on their suitability for children. It also funds research on the role of media in the lives of children and advocates publicly for child-friendly policies and laws regarding media.

Worldreader is a 501(c)(3) global nonprofit organization working with partners to try to get children reading at least 25 books, mostly digital, a year with understanding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teaching for Change</span> Non-profit organization

Teaching for Change is a non-profit organization founded in 1989 and based in Washington, D.C., with the motto of "building social justice, starting in the classroom." This organization uses publications, professional development, and parent organizing programs to accomplish this goal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Global SchoolNet</span> Nonprofit educational organization

Global SchoolNet (GSN) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) international educational organization that serves as a clearinghouse for collaborative educational projects, many that are based on the Constructivist Learning model. The organization coordinates projects and competitions focused on humanitarian issues, diplomacy, leadership, innovative teaching, entrepreneurship, STEM, and other academics for schools and youth organizations internationally. About 150,000 educators from 194 countries have registered as members of Global SchoolNet, and about 5.5 million students from 109 countries have participated in GSN projects as of 2020. Global SchoolNet is known for two international competitions, the International CyberFair for students in grades kindergarten through high school, and the U.S. State Department-sponsored Doors to Diplomacy for ages 12 through 19. Global SchoolNet was established in 1984 as Free Educational Mail (FrEdMail) in San Diego, California, where its headquarters still exists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yvonne Andres</span> American educator

Dr. Yvonne Marie Andrés is an American educator who is recognized as an e-learning pioneer and visionary. Andrés is the co-founder of the non-profit Global SchoolNet (1984) and the founder of the Global Schoolhouse (1992). Andrés was named one of the 25 most influential people worldwide in education technology and was invited to meet with President Bush to launch the Friendship Through Education initiative (2000). Andrés is the creator and producer of International CyberFair and the US State Department’s Doors to Diplomacy program. Andrés frequently writes about highly effective education programs from around the globe that blend online and offline learning, while incorporating the latest neuroplasticity findings and Constructivist Learning methodology. Andrés has provided leadership throughout the US, Canada, Asia, Europe, Australia, South America and Africa and in 2007 Andrés was awarded the Soroptimist International Making a Difference Award for advancing the status of women and children. Andrés was selected as one of San Diego Magazine's Women Who Move the City, recognizing dynamic women who create positive change and contribute to the community. In 2021 Andrés was recognized as One of the Most Influential Women in Technology by San Diego Business Journal.

The Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF) is a private foundation established in 1993 and located in Agawam, Massachusetts. It is a 501(c)(3)nonprofit organization charitable organization with the goal of "enhancing Jewish and community life in Western Massachusetts, North America, Israel, and beyond."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Music Will</span>

Music Will, formerly known as Little Kids Rock (LKR), is a nonprofit charity based in Montclair, New Jersey, that encourages and enables children to play popular music. It provides free music instruction and instruments to public school districts across the country, from kindergarten through high school. Their modern band curriculum is rooted in popular music and their teaching methods are rooted in teaching music as a second language, with a heavy emphasis on composition and improvisation. It is the largest nonprofit music program in US public schools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Migrant education</span>

Children of migrant workers struggle to achieve the same level of educational success as their peers. Relocation causes discontinuity in education, which causes migrant students to progress slowly through school and drop out at high rates. Additionally, relocation has negative social consequences on students: isolation from peers due to cultural differences and language barriers. Migrant children, defined as those who relocate because of involvement with agriculture-related industries or other seasonal work, are also at a disadvantage because the majority live in extreme poverty and must work with their parents to support their families. These barriers to equal educational attainment for children of migrant workers are present in countries all over the world. Although the inequality in education remains pronounced, government policies, non-governmental organizations, non-profits, and social movements are working to reverse its effects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julia Pimsleur</span> American author and entrepreneur

Julia Pimsleur is an author, scaling coach, speaker and entrepreneur. She is the founder and CEO of Million Dollar Women, an organization dedicated to helping one million women entrepreneurs reach $1MM in annual revenue, author of the best-selling book Million Dollar Women: The Essential Guide for Female Entrepreneurs Who Want to Go Big,Go Big Now, and the founder of Million Dollar Women Network. She is also the founder and CEO of the Little Pim language education system, as well as a former documentary filmmaker. She is the daughter of Paul Pimsleur, who was a scholar of applied linguistics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy</span>

The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy is a non-profit organization, headquartered in Washington D.C., supporting literacy as fundamental to the success of both families and the U.S. economy. The foundation promotes access to resources to build a stronger, more equitable America through literacy. The organization co-sponsored the Adult Literacy XPRIZE and produces a "Gap Map" literacy data mapping tool, the National Celebration of Reading, and other events.

We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) is a nonprofit organization created to promote diversity of multiple forms in American children's literature and publishing, which grew out of the Twitter hashtag #WeNeedDiverseBooks in 2014. The organization's programming includes funding grants and internships for diverse authors and people interested in publishing, a mentorship program, providing lists of book recommendations for librarians, teachers, and parents on finding books with characters from marginalized backgrounds, and publishing an anthology of short stories featuring multiple authors from diverse backgrounds.

References

  1. "First Book: Who We Are and How We Make a Difference".
  2. "Home". firstbook.org.
  3. "First Book Charts New Growth".
  4. "First Book". First Book. Retrieved 2018-09-11.
  5. "5 Million Kids Get Free Books from This Non-Profit Every Year".
  6. "Become a First Book Member for Free".
  7. The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/value-added-nonprofit-first-book-steals-a-page-from-the-business-world/2013/04/14/093483fc-a3ba-11e2-82bc-511538ae90a4_story.html.{{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. "5 Million Kids Get Free Books from This Non-Profit Every Year".
  9. "First Book Accelerator".
  10. "Checklist aims to help teachers create reading oases in book deserts".