Remembering "Books for Kids" as Part of Your Holiday Giving

Remembering "Books for Kids" as part of your holiday giving can turn you into one smart donor. Even during difficult financial times, Americans are likely to do their best to open their hearts and their wallets during the holiday season to make a meaningful donation to one or more charitable organizations. If you decide to direct some of your Christmas giving to "Books for Kids" you will not only be directly assisting with the education of children, you will at the same time be giving a gift that truly keeps on giving.

Like many charitable organizations "Books for Kids" has grown out of the recognition that a small local need is in fact not so local in its effect after all, but instead it is really a need that is shared by many communities in common. The story of the establishment of "Books for Kids" is a simple one. In 1986 a few concerned individuals living in New York City saw the need for providing books to under-serviced and needy children in a localized area.. They believed that by providing books for children from low income families who lacked such resources, these children would have a much better chance to attend and achieve at school on an equal footing with other better equipped students.

The response to their localized call for books for underprivileged children was considerable. The initial collection only anticipated 1000 books but garnered twice that number. The trend continued and the number of donated books rose geometrically reaching 9,000 books in only 2 years of holiday giving programs.

Over the last decade "Books for Kids" has expanded in terms of the number of cities which it serves and the number of children whom it reaches. Still its goal remains the same. "Books for Kids" is all about giving all children a chance to expand their knowledge and forward their learning potential through books. To accomplish this goal of empowerment through reading t"Books for Kids" has partnered with all manner of organizations and learning institutions to create situations in which children can acquire the most basic of learning resources - books.

In partnership with sponsors that include "Children's Television Workshop -Sesame Street", "Leap Frog", "Starbucks" and "The Children's Place ", "Books for Kids" has succeeded in increasing the book supply for literacy programs and establish mini library programs in other community centers where children can borrow and use books conveniently and regularly even when they cannot access a larger public library. While "Books for Kids" is not the complete answer to improving the educational opportunities for lower class or less advantaged students, there is no doubt that the presence of more and better books in any community and in any home is a definite step forward in the education of young children.

During the holiday season lots of Americans will get in line to purchase books for children of all ages who are members of their family or children of their friends. They will plop down plastic or paper money knowing that they are buying a gift that will not only bring a smile to a young face but will also assist in the more subtle task of helping that child to improve reading skills and knowledge of the world around him or her. Those who volunteer with "Books for Kids" believe that all donations of books or funding for book purchases accomplish these same very important goals. Those who wish to support the work of this wonderful charity and important cause need only consult "Books for Kids" website listed in the sources below.

sources: www.booksforkids.org