Fall 2017
THE BOOK REPORT Books from Birth Merges with Porter-Leath! Books from Birth merged to become Porter-Leath’s newest program! Porter-Leath, a local nonprofit, which in its 167 year history has worked to empower children and families to achieve a healthy, optimal and independent lifestyle. One way to bolster this mission is to help caregivers establish family literacy routines. Children who currently receive books from the Books from Birth program have not seen a change in service. All parents can continue enrolling their young children through Books from Birth and local partners.
“Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation is proud to be the major funding partner for this program,” said Theresa Carl, GBBF President. “We know that Books from Birth will continue to thrive as a program of Porter-Leath, impacting even more of Shelby County’s young children and families.” Robert Fockler, President of the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis, sees the benefit of joining the two organizations. “This merger takes advantage of the strengths of both organizations: Books from Birth’s staff can focus on putting books in the hands of every pre-school age child in Shelby County, and Porter-Leath -- already one of the best-managed agencies in our region -- can provide the strong guidance and back office that comes from being the leader in services to our children. It will make both efforts stronger.” he states.
“We have admired the tremendous impact and measurable outcomes of Books from Birth. Combining it with Porter-Leath’s back office support and outreach capabilities, we expect the program to continue to grow and thrive as a universal intervention, ensuring every child enters Kindergarten ready to learn” said Sean Lee, Porter-Leath President. The Books from Birth Board of Directors will transition into an Advisory Council with two members serving on Porter-Leath’s governing board. Carol Seamons, Books from Birth Board Chair added, “Both organizations share a common vision of providing high-quality service for young children and their families. Our leadership looks to continue growing Imagination Library enrollment and expanding opportunities for early literacy in Shelby County.” As part of the Porter-Leath family, Books from Birth staff will proceed raising funds for early literacy programming. Through the continued support of local donors and in partnership with the Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation (GBBF), the program will remain at no cost to enrolled families. “Nearly twenty percent of children enrolled in Tennessee’s Imagination Library live in Shelby County.” said Tennessee First Lady and Memphis native, Crissy Haslam. “I am grateful for Books from Birth’s continuing efforts to prepare young children for success in school and a lifetime of learning as they transition to a new home at Porter-Leath.”
On Thursday, September 26, supporters gathered at Porter-Leath’s Early Childhood Academy to hear more about the integration of Books from Birth into Porter-Leath. Porter-Leath’s President, Sean Lee, and Books from Birth’s Advisory Council Chair, Carol Seamons, both expressed their excitement about the potential growth opportunities available from the merger of two organizations that seek to enrich the lives of children and families, and thanked attendees for their continued support. The formal announcement included representatives from all current Porter-Leath programs who discussed how Books from Birth would be included in their current program offerings. Read the key points of the merger at porterleath.org/books-from-birth and for more information contact Mary Braddock at mbraddock@porterleath.org. Photographs: Top left - Claire Valine, member of Porter-Leath’s Board of Directors and Alex Wharton, member of the Books from Birth Advisory Council learn more about the merger between Porter-Leath and Books from Birth at the formal merger announcment, September 26. Bottom left - Staff members of Porter-Leath’s Generations program take time to tell supportors how BfB would complement their current work. Top right - Local early childhood advocates, Barbara Holden Nixon and Peter Schutt; Porter- Leath’s VP of Development, Rob Hughes; and Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation President and Vice President, Theresa Carl and Dean Hoskins, celebrate Books from Birth becoming Porter-Leath’s newest program.
Building Strong Readers One pediatric group’s effort to enroll children in Books from Birth
The Raleigh Group, a local pediatric and adolecent care clinic, has been an enthusiastic supporter and proponent of Books from Birth for over a decade. This committed children’s clinic has refined the way it introduces patients to the Books from Birth and encourages parents to register their children to receieve books through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program. Both doctors and nurses see helping children enroll in the Books from Birth program as part of the the clinic’s regular routine, like signing in and updating address or insurance information. Newborns and new patients under age five are automatically given an enrollment form with their other paperwork when they check in at the front desk. Dr. Jennifer Mink, a physician at the clinic described why she supports the clinic’s commitment to enroll childen for the program by saying: “Early childhood literacy is so very important for healthy development. I encourage parents of toddlers and preschoolers to read to their children for 20 minutes every day. We thank Books from Birth for helping us help children with their speech and language development.” Parents can fill it out as they wait and turn it in with their other forms, thus eliminating the lost opportunity when a parent gets home to other responsibilities and paperwork and never fills out the form. The forms are all collected by the office staff into a designated box, which is checked each month. There is also time to ask regular patients and make sure they are already signed up and receiving the books. One nurse, Cindy Galloway, is the clinic’s main contact between the clinic and the Books from Birth program, who is able to funnel books to the clinic every other month to give to their patients. She explains that it (Books from Birth) “has brought so much joy to Raleigh Group patients. Recently, when I handed a little girl a book she said ‘A book for me?!’ Raised by a mother who was also a kindergarten teacher, Nurse Galloway learned early in her personal life that “the best thing you can do for a child is read to them” and like her mother before her, she made it a point to make literacy practices part of her own son’s life. Galloway adds, “At Raleigh Group we read books and blow bubbles for our patients to make coming to the doctor’s office a better experience and brighten their day! Thank you for sharing the gift of books for our Raleigh Group patients!”
Bottom left - Nurse Galloway reads to Raleigh Group patients to help them feel comfortable in a new environment. Middle & Above - Raleigh Group patients read in the examination room as they wait for their visit with the doctor. Photos provided by: Raleigh Group PC
SOURCES OF ENROLLMENT IN 2017 ONLINE (Websites & Social Media) HOSPITALS/CLINICS WELCOME BABY OUTREACH EVENTS HEAD START PROGRAM LIBRARIES SHELBY COUNTY SCHOOLS *The Tennessee Department of Health mails a Well Baby packet to the parents of every newborn in Tennessee. This packet includes information about community resources for parents, including a brochure describing Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program.
The Little Engine Circle
Established in 2014, The Little Engine Circle honors donors, both individuals and groups, who have contributed $50,000 or more during their lifetime of giving to Books from Birth.
Anonymous Foundations (2) Anonymous Individual BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation Church of the Holy Communion City of Memphis First Tennessee Foundation Gerber Taylor Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation
Hyde Family Foundations International Paper Foundation John D. Buckman Charitable Trust Junior League of Memphis The Klyce Family Nell Rainer Levy McGehee Family Foundation Plough Foundation Jocelyn and William Rudner
The Schadt Foundation Mary and Joe* Scheuner Leslie and Peter Schutt Shelby County Government Bonnie Vare Smith* UnitedHealthcare United Way of the Mid-South Urban Child Institute *Indicates The Little Engine Circle designation given posthumously
Providing Resources for the Community Community effort to provide funding for children in Books from Birth
July 22, Books from Birth was fortunate to participate in the “cleanest” community event to date - South Memphis Alliance’s “Free Laundry Day.” The SMA let customers wash and dry their clothes free of charge and over a hundred residents participated. While parents waited on their clothes to process, children could read and play in the Pinwheel Playroom, a space inside the laundromat designed to encourage learning and exploration through books, puzzles and toys and to provide information and resources to families. The event included nearly a half-dozen social service agencies including, providing resources from legal aid to healthcare with collaboration from Books from Birth, Porter-Leath, the Assisi Foundation, the Urban Child Institute, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital’s Early Success Coalition and the Neighborhood Christian Centers. Books from Birth is able to provide resources for community events and initatives like SMA’s Free Laundry Day and the Pinwheel Playroom through community funding, specifically the Shelby County Commission. Earlier this fall, the Shelby County Commission approved a grant from the Shelby County Board of Commissioners FY 2018 Community Enhancement Program totaling $36,500 to support Books from Birth, while investing in communities across Shelby County. This funding will aid Books from Birth as it creates literacy connections for families helping caregivers bond with their children and providing foundational support necessary for children’s ongoing academic success. Books from Birth would like to say a special thank you to Commissioners Walter Bailey, Jr., Willie Brooks, Melvin Burgess, George Chism, Justin Ford, Eddie Jones, Reginald Milton, David Reaves, and Van Turner who collectively sponsored the resolution for funding.
Both Emily Taylor’s children Caroline (8), and Harry (5) love to read, so when her youngest child’s fifth birthday rolled around and he was to receive his final book from Books from Birth, she wanted to give back in some way. The Taylor family wanted to raise awareness for early literacy too, so they decided to donate the tip jar from both locations of their locally-owned business, Mempops, to Books from Birth during October 2017. The Taylors first learned of Books from Birth from friends and then enrolled their children in the program when filling out discharge paperwork in the hospital. Emily was delighted to see a variety of titles and art that were currated for the program offerings stating, “there were some classic books, books that were in Spanish, books about different cultures that maybe I didn’t know about.” She and her family even learned a bit more about an Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, where an elephant and dog became best friends.** Emily mentions her family tried wanted to create a literacy rich environment in their home, adding “I am passionate about reading, so it was really important for me to hopefully instill a love of reading in my children too. From the time they were born we established a bed time routine that included take a bath, read a book and go to bed.” This routine has proved to be fruitful as her children continue to matriculate into elementary school. Harry (5) and Emily Taylor say one of their favorite reading spots is the library area in the Crosstown Concourse theatre stairs.
She is proud to see her children picking out their own books and reading either independently or with others. As Harry approaches kindergarten, he tells Books from Birth that he looks forward to “writing, listening, drawing and reading,” so keep a close eye out for this budding author/illustrator - we hear that his favorite stories involve trucks and dragons! (**Tarra & Bella: The Elephant and Dog Who Became Best Friends by Carol Buckley)
Little Red Caboose Club
Families can provide other children new, high-quality, age-appropriate books from the same program their child grew to love by donating on behalf of their graduates.
Emily Austin - Cecille Kaylee Baughman - Lila Rachel Benfield - Lacey Kathlyn Carter - Quincey Yesenia Castillo - Lyla Nova Cheatham - Helayna Nicohl Collier - London Melanie Dorsey - Madison Carol Gray - Keagan Ginger Hamlet - Andrew
Rhonda Hollan - Aayan Candice Howard - Cadence & Candence Heather Jacoby-Keller - Hadley Love Lisa Juneau - Elena Terry Kendall - Will Jennifer Kennedy - Charles Amanda Kinkade - Riley Ravindra Konchada - Sai Harshil Barbara Loeffler - Kylie Jane McCrary - Bates
Whitney Mills - Cody Sara Moultrie - Isaac & Landon Tiffany Nason - Brayden Scott Scalzo - Sofia Teresa Smith - Lucy Francis Jessica Solomon - Zoey Brian Spiker - Emerson Yanmei Tan - Alice Shelly Thannum - Kaley Sara Thatcher – John Michael “Jack”
Amanda Thompson - Bridger Yesenia Trujillo-Robles - Landon Sasidhar Vadapalli - Shreyas Michale Vance - Cameron Kimberly Weber - Everett Kara & Jon Wetzel - Nora Megan Wilkins - Nolan
*Donor - Graduate/Participant January 1, 2017 - June 30, 2017
Providing Resources for the Community September events bring emphasis to enrollment, education, volunteering and giving back September 16 - 23 was an exciting week at Books from Birth as not only did BfB staff move to their new offices with Porter-Leath, but it was also Tennessee’s Imagination Library Week! Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library affiliates across all 95 counties celebrated Tennessee Imagination Library Week 2017 with special events and a social media challenge. This year’s seventh annual Book It 5K kicked off the week with over 300 participants who came to hit the pavement in support our county’s youngest citizen. Congratulations to Annabelle Bridgforth and Elliot Garst for securing the top female and male finisher positions! This event, which benefits Books from Birth and Emmanuel Center Memphis, would not be possible without volunteers, teams, sponsors and Church of the Holy Communion’s staff and congregates. The church’s Recreation Director, Julie Fike, the race committee and the Memphis Runners Track Club ensured that the 5K ran smoothly. Since its inception, the Book It 5k has donated over $75,000 to Books from Birth. These funds help provide books and literacy opportunities for children and their families across Shelby County. Governor and First Lady Haslam kicked the week off by posting pictures of themselves reading with children and tagged with #GotCaughtReading. The Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation launched the social media challenge to raise awareness of early childhood literacy and the joy of sharing books with children. Books from Birth loved seeing Shelby County citizens promote early literacy and kindergarten readiness by reading childrens’ books and posting their pictures. During this eventful week, Books from Birth and St. Mary’s Episcopal School hosted a family literacy night called “A Book & A Bite.” While having dinner, parents heard about the educational and developmental benefits of reading to young children, including how to develop quality reading time and the impact reading has on the development of young children’s minds. Speakers included Ms. Laura Hutton, Director of the Hughes Learning Center at St. Mary’s Episcopal School and Kelly Thieme, Instructional Coach at Porter-Leath’s Early Childhood Academy in South Memphis. While the adults heard from these two speakers, students from St. Mary’s Episcopal School led preschool children in fun, educational activities based on selections from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. There will be a second “A Book & A Bite” dinner in Spring 2018. These literacy dinners are made possible through a $7,500 grant made to Books from Birth by the St. Mary’s Community Fund, a student run organization at St. Mary’s Episcopal School, which teaches students the impact and process of philanthropy. The group partners with area nonprofits to fund projects benefiting Shelby County children. The week continued with a special promotion and storytime at novel. The indomitable Miss Marjorie charmed thirty toddlers, as she led them through her combination of music, dancing and reading. Plus, she read Anna Dewdney’s classic, Llama Llama Red Pajama - a crowd favorite!
A) Hitting the warm pavement, participants weaved their way down the road and crossed the finish line through the much beloved balloon arch. Photo by: Cindy McMillion B) Books from Birth participant, Ben Owen, “got caught reading” with his mom, Judge Mary Wagner during Imagination Library Week. C) Students from St. Mary’s Episcopal School raise funds throughout the year to provide grants for community projects. D) New Books from Birth graduate, Paxton (R) and Bartlett Library Director, Chip Holliday (L) celebrate graduates from the Bartlett area with a themed storytime and craft at the end of Imagination Library Week. Photo by: Judy Teague
Perfectly capping off Imagination Library Week 2017, Bartlett Library hosted its first graduation party for graduates of Books from Birth who live in the Bartlett area. Sponsored by the Bartlett Friends of the Library, the graduation included a storytime and craft centering on Jon Agee’s Lion Lessons. Graduates also had the opportunity to sign up for their first library card. Tennessee’s Imagination Library Week encompassed all the components that make Books from Birth possible - donors, volunteers, local partners, parents and of course, readers! Please note our new address: Books from Birth 3400 Prescott Road Memphis, TN 38118-0008
LEAD SPONSORS Paragon Bank Semmes-Murphey EXECUTIVE SPONSOR Mid-South Milling PREMIUM SPONSOR Commercial Bank and Trust Company Fleming Architects PATRON SPONSOR The Adams Family New South Capital Butler Snow Murphy, DeZonia & Webb Wolfchase Honda SUPPORTING SPONSORS Aetna Irene & Ron Ayotte Rebecca & John Bakke Bill and Catherine Bateman Campbell Construction Sarah & Tom Cowens Diversified Trust Doug & Andrea Edwards Bill Falvey & Emily Woodside Hollywood Feed Ideal Chemical & Supply Company MOGA Mister Tree Oaklawn Homes, LLC OrthoMemphis Russell and Oliver Attorneys Smith Pools and Spas Stratas Food The Straton Family Bill and Carmine Vaughan FRIENDS Attendant Care Services, Inc. Genie & Ralph Braden Clay & Land Flint Hydraulics Firstbank Mortgage Linda & Neely Mallory Linda Kay and Randy McCloy Memphis Runners Track Club Lattie Michael Modern Dentisry of Memphis Robert & Kendra Propst Dr. John Reddick & Dr. Mark MacGaw Scott Fabrics IN KIND DNA Entertainment Fleet Feet Germantown Commissary Marco’s Pizza NexAir Paulsen Printing
Reaching Out to Future Readers
Books from Birth advisor uses vocation to promote early literacy. The following article first appeared in the fall edition of the Tennessee Alumnus magazine. Jason Yaun, M.D. is a current member of the Books from Birth Advisory Council
Parents receive instruction about the importance of reading aloud every day to their children and learn that, as their children’s first teachers, they are not only building literacy skills but also social and emotional skills.
After his parents put him to bed as a child, Dr. Jason Yaun would lie there, reading by flashlight or the light in the hallway. Now, Yaun, a pediatrician (HSC ’09), hopes to instill that same love of reading in the patients he sees. He is committed to caring for the bodies and the minds of his patients. Yaun, 35, works as an assistant professor of pediatrics at the UT Health Science Center (UTHSC) and a physician in the general pediatrics department at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis.
“Really, we’re talking about building brains from the critical time from birth to 3 years old,” Yaun says.
Born and raised in Memphis, he says he feels a calling to take care of the children in his hometown. “It was during my pediatrics residency training at UTHSC, when I was trying to decide what to do from there and what to do with the rest of my life, that I really just felt I had a heart to take care of the children of Memphis,” he says. “So that led me to a passion of not just general pediatrics but advocacy and being involved in the community.” Always an avid reader, he has transformed his personal passion into a community mission as a champion of early childhood literacy. “My love for reading is something that was instilled in me at a very early age,” says the father of a daughter, 6, and a son, 10. “I think there are all these great literacy programs out there, but most of them focus on school-age kids, and that’s generally too late.” He heard about Reach Out and Read, a nonprofit organization founded in 1989—at what is now Boston Medical Center—to give free books to children
Dr. Yaun uses his vocation as a medical doctor as a platform to promote early literacy among his patients and their families.
from infancy to school age through physician offices. “I was looking at all the literature, all the evidence behind it, and just got really passionate about it,” he says. “So, while I was still actually a resident, knowing that I was going to stay on as faculty here, I worked to get funding to start a Reach Out and Read program here in our clinic.” Evidence from literacy programs, including Reach Out and Read, suggests benefits that last a lifetime, Yaun says: “Not only does reading give children communication skills and literacy skills, but it also serves as a buffer against adverse childhood experiences and toxic stress by promoting nurturing relationships.”
Dr. Jason Yuan with some of the books he reads to his patients.
Jon McCullers, chair of UTHSC pediatrics and pediatrician-in-chief at Le Bonheur, says Yaun, with his quiet and analytical personality, has excelled at growing into his role as a leader, progressing from student, to resident, to chief resident, to faculty member and director of the resident clinic. “At each stage, it has been this careful consideration prior to commitment, followed by exceptional performance beyond expectations,” McCullers says. All pediatric faculty are expected to have an interest in academic pursuits beyond their clinical duties. “Through his early career experiences in the clinic, he developed an interest in early childhood literacy,” McCullers says of Yaun. “Again, after a period of analysis and contemplation, he dove in. He is now becoming recognized as a leader in this field across the state and will eventually have a national profile—truly, a rapid success story in an important area and one of our most promising young faculty.” Yaun also is working with community partners to expand Reach Out and Read in Memphis and has secured funding to launch the program at Christ Community Health Services. Since 2015, Yaun has served on the board of Books from Birth, the Shelby County organization to promote kindergarten readiness and strengthen family bonds by providing age-appropriate books for all children from birth to age 5. That program and the national Reach Out and Read program offer assistance in getting the books to distribute to Yaun’s young patients. “Reach Out and Read has a partnership with Scholastic (a company known for publishing and selling books) on a national level, so we get books at a very deep discount,” he says. Funding also comes from the Urban Child Institute in Memphis.
Now, through Reach Out and Read at UT Le Bonheur Pediatric Specialists, “We also have books in the waiting room that kids can read or that the outpatient resident teaching practice at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, all parents can read to their children,” he says. Those books come from book children from 6 months old to age 5 get free books chosen for them by their drives or from Books from Birth. physicians during every well-patient visit. Yaun’s program accepts books donated for the waiting room. Those can be Plastic tubs filled with books, sorted for appropriate age, language and dropped off at the clinic at 51 North Dunlap, Suite 350, Memphis. Volunteers content, line the walls of his office and are in the physician workroom. “The to read books aloud to patients, siblings and family members prior to clinic idea is the physician actually gives the book,” Yaun says. “It’s not like appointments also are welcome. For more information, visit lebonheur.org/ror a sticker at the end of the visit. It is supposed to be brought in by the or contact Books from Birth Director, Jamila Wicks at jwicks@porterleath.org doctor. That way, the doctor is a trusted messenger and can give the message of early literacy.” Photos By: Lisa W. Buser
Thank you to our incredible supporters! Gifts listed given between January 1, 2017 and June 30, 2017
Mr. & Mrs. Peter Abell Mr. & Mrs. Stan Addison Anonymous AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP AutoZone Ashli Avis Louise Barousse Bartlett Lions Club Mr. & Mrs. Robert Batson Dr. & Mrs. William Bickers Nancy E. Bogatin Charlotte Bray Mr. & Mrs. James Breazeale Rachel Brennan Gina Brewer Briarcrest Christian School Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Brown Terri Browne Mr. & Mrs. John Buford Carrier Corporation Mr. & Mrs. Rob Carter Daniel Case Mr. & Mrs. Mike Chambers Dr. & Mrs. Walt Chambliss Christ Methodist Day School City of Bartlett City of Germantown City of Memphis cityCURRENT, LLC Thomas Clark Gretchen Coger Collierville Contemporary Club Jeanne Coors Arthur Mr. & Mrs. Tom Cowens Alice Crawford Dennis Electric, Inc. Carolyn Danley Mr. & Mrs. Greg Denzer Gail Dobbins Cindy Dobbs Mr. & Mrs. John Dobbs Karen Dorsett Judy Drescher & Dave Lindstrom Mr. & Mrs. Steven Droke Farris Bobango Branan PLC Karen Fienup Brittany Foley Rebecca Fountain
Mr. & Mrs. Hugh Fraser Harry Freeman Mary Alice Fuehrer Becky Gafford Charlotte Gillespie Mr. & Mrs. James Gilliland Mr. & Mrs. Jim Gilliland Glasman, Wyatt, Tuttle & Cox, PC Mrs. Summer Godman Autumn L Goerke Goodlett Foundation Governor’s Books From Birth Foundation Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Teresa Gramm Mitch Graves Madelyn Gray Mr. & Mrs. Tom Grimes Brenda Grinder Cara Grinder Heather Grosvener Mr. & Mrs. Steven Guinn Dr. & Mrs. Thomas A. Guyton Jenny Haddad Sloane Hankins Pat Hannah Mr. & Mrs. Sam Haynie Jay Healy Heartland Dental, LLC Brooke Helsley Mr. & Mrs. Paul Henley Alison Henneberger Dr. & Mrs. Hank Herrod Judy Hogue Holiday Ham Holdings, LLC Elizabeth Hood Hutchison School IBERIABANK Idlewild Presbyterian Church Independent Bank Ginger Jordan Junior League Of Memphis Mr. & Mrs. Michael E. Keeney Chris Kelyman Andrea Kerlan Kiwanis Club of Germantown Veazey and Collie Krausnick Mr. & Mrs. Pierre Landaiche
Landmark Community Bank Peggy Larkin Bess Lewis Mr. & Mrs. John Lewis Jeni Linkous Lipscomb & Pitts Insurance Debbie L. Lourens Margaret Lovell Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Lowery Mr. & Mrs. Andrew MacQueen Macy’s / Bloomingdale’s Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Nick Vergos Mr. & Mrs. Hugh Mallory Mr. & Mrs. John Maness Ferrin Mavar Mr. & Mrs. Jason Maykowski Mr. & Mrs. Dan McCleary Margaret McLean Mr. & Mrs. Phillip McNeill Medtronic Foundation Memphis University School Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Midgley Justin Miller Susanna Moldoveanu Monogram Foods Mr. & Mrs. Jack Morris Brandon Morrison Mr. & Mrs. J. Greg Morten Heather Nadicksbernd Rebecca Nenon Newsouth Capital Management, Inc. NFC Investments, LLC Dusky Norsworthy Old World Floors, LLC Mr. & Mrs. Mark O’Malley Dorothy Orgill Kirsch The Honorable Mike Palazzolo Mr. & Mrs. Larry Papasan Pinnacle Financial Partners Mr. & Mrs. Richard Raines Andie Ray Dr. Patti Ray Mr. & Mrs. John Remmers Roy Robbins Mr. & Mrs. Ken Roberts Stacia Rosatit Michael Russell Mr. & Mrs. William Ryan
Alex Crump Patti Ray Bob Durrett Sue Durrett Russ Elliott Deanna & Phil Kaminsky Audrey Gatewood Lesley Colvett Margaret Fraser Jenny Haddad Susan Knight Carol Seamons Leslie Wilkinson
Joan Greenberg Ruth Patton Barbara Jacobs Nancy E. Bogatin Books from Birth Board and Staff Katherine Spurlock Pansy Ruth Kyle Denise Duffy Patricia McKissack Kendall Maykowski David Street Elizabeth Picard Nancy E. Bogatin
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Saab Julius Sanders, Jr. Jenny Savage Mary Scheuner Mr. & Mrs. Peter Schutt Robyn Scott Lauren & Jeff Scrugham Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Seamons Sedgwick Claims Management Semmes Murphey Clinic Sharon Shappard Mr. & Mrs. Albert Shaw Shelby County Mayor’s Charitable Fund Vickie Simpson Dianna Simpson Stephanie Simpson Amy Sisson Deborah L. Smith Blount D. Smith Kaki Smith Valerie Smith Dr. & Mrs. Michael Smith Donna Snow Speer Charitable Trust Sheri Spunt St. Mary’s Episcopal School Judith Teague Sayra Thacker The Urban Child Institute Mr. & Mrs. Albert Throckmorton Town of Collierville Julie Umansky University Of Memphis Foundation Allison Vance Mary VanGieson Stephen Vescovo Mr. & Mrs. Jason Ward The Honorable & Mrs. AC Wharton Mr. & Mrs. Andre Wharton Mrs. Stephanie White Mr. & Mrs. Jason Wicks Leslie Wilkinson Mr. & Mrs. Page Williamson Karen Woodyard Dr. & Mrs. Jason Yaun Ruth Young *Gifts listed above were $100 or greater
Memorial Gifts Elliott Abel Sandra Abel Barbara Ostrow Susan Adkins Lesley Adkins Laura Bivens Julie Umansky Elilzabeth Bray Blohm CE Bray Anne Williams Brown Cary Brown Rainer Combs Gail Dobins
Jocelyn Rudner Books from Birth Board and Staff Mannie Scheinberg Dan McCleary Ben Schwartz Deanna & Phil Kaminsky Desiree Vasquez Dianne Llanes Lucy Williford Staff of Books from Birth James Wittenberg Mary Droke
Books from Birth All Aboard Campaign On November 2, 2016, Books from Birth launched a campaign inviting members of the Books from Birth Board of Directors - past, present and advisory - to come aboard and provide for the future success of Books from Birth. After outstanding response, we are proud to announce that the following supporters have collectively pledged or given over $200,000 towards this initative. Mr. & Mrs. Peter Abell Dr. Rebecca Anderson Nancy E. Bogatin Mr. & Mrs. Tom Cowens Sally Walker Davies Judy Drescher & Dave Lindstrom Mr. & Mrs. Jim Gilliland Cate Joyce The Klyce Family Mr. & Mrs. John Lewis
Mr. & Mrs. Andrew MacQueen Mr. & Mrs. Hugh Mallory Mack McCaul Mr. & Mrs. Phillip McNeill Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Midgley Michael & Darlene Newman Mr. & Mrs. Mark O’Malley Mr. & Mrs. Matt Robbins Mary Scheuner Mr. & Mrs. Peter Schutt
Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Seamons Mr. & Mrs. Albert Shaw Dr. & Mrs. Michael Smith Dr. Bianca Sweeten & K. R. Sweeten Mr. & Mrs. Nick Vergos Mr. & Mrs. Alexander Wharton The Wharton Charitable Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Jason Wicks Mr. & Mrs. Page Williamson Dr. & Mrs. Jason Yaun
Honoraria Birth of the Arney Twins Hallie Elliot Mrs. Ball Lauren Utterback Gay Ann & Billy Ray Barnette Leah Beth Boldton Laura Barrett Jay Healy Cindy Bennett Casey McNeill Nancy E. Bogatin Ruby Wharton Rena Brunner Greg Denzer Colin Carter Jenny Carter Joy Chalmers Andra DeVincenzo Shelby Chambliss Diane Chambliss Diane Chambliss Andra DeVincenzo Martha Flowers Angie Gardner Barbara Guyton Kirk McClintock Mrs. CR Coleman Mary Pittman Dabney Coors Heather Grosvener Ann Marie Crump LaUana Brubaker Kimberly Davidson LaUana Brubaker The Donahoes Olivia Wilmot Mrs. Driver Lauren Utterback Candice Echols LaUana Brubaker
Elizabeth Edwards LaUana Brubaker Harry Freeman Mark Matheny Maddy & Joey Hadicksbernd Heather Nadicksbernd Maggie Haire LaUana Brubaker Branslee Ann Hallock Betty Lyon Judith Rose Haltom Suzanne Oates Crissy Haslam Books from Birth Martha Flowers Albert Throckmorton Brittany Haynie Lauren Gant MK Hill Tiffany Nason Betsy Hood Andrea Kerlan Vickie Lazarus Nany Lou Jones William Bryan Jones 2016-17 Junior League Provisionals Traci Stickland Cooper & Riley Klein Megan & Corey Klein Sara Kris Mary Trotz John Lewis Mitch Graves Kim MacQueen Books from Birth Rivers & Andy Malmo Veazey Krausnick Casey McNeill Mary Ann Brown Autumn Goerke
Debbie Louren Sandy Maness Stacey Newman Stacia Rosatti Lisa Morten Andra DeVincenzo Martha Flowers Ensley Shelby Oxley Cindy Dobbs Carol Para Ferrin Mavar Margaret Partee Berry Thompson Andrea & Nicholas Ray Andie Ray Dr. Sylvia Richey & Dr. Steven Richey Lisa Usdan & David Portnoy Meghan Riley Joanna Curtis Hattie Rounder Lana Holmes Lois Ruckert Amanda Kinkade Leslie & Peter Schutt Madelyn Gray Carol Seamons Laurie Benton LaUna Brubaker Charlotte Gillespie Melissa Grimes Jane McCrary Margaret McLean Ginger Thredkeld Margaret Gay Sessions J. Denton Harris Marlene Shaw Brandon & Joe Morrison
Stephanie Simpson Laura Glenn Mr. & Mrs. Andrew MacQueen Dianna Simpson Caroline Simpson LaUana Brubaker Ashley Smith Connie Powell Brianna Stewart Lisa Puckett Izzy Tayloe Emily Woodside Sara Thatcher Victor Rocha Randal Tomblin Julie Lewis Lee Tomlinson Virginia Brewer Sue Tritt Becky Gafford Elizabeth Turner William Turner Eleanor Ward Alaina Ward Debbie Weber Melnie Bremer AC Wharton Pamela Guinn “Godmother” Ruby Wharton Julius Saunders Sadie Wilson Becky Wilson Linda Winchester LaUana Brubaker *Bold Names Indicate Honorees
Books from Birth 3400 Prescott Road Memphis, TN 38118-0008
Books from Birth Advisory Council Carol Seamons – Chair Mark O’Malley – Vice-Chair Sarah Cowens Lisa Chow Mallory Judy Drescher John Lewis Peter Schutt Marlene Shaw
Celebrate the Hoidays with Books from Birth The Reindeer Rockout dances, benefiting BfB return for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. Tickets are $35 plus processing and can be purchased at www.booksfrombirth.org/reindeerrockout beginning at noon on November 1st. Sunday, November 26 – 6th grade dance at Memphis Botanic Gardens
Stephanie Simpson Gina Smith Alexander Wharton Jason Yaun, M.D. Jamila Wicks Books from Birth, Director
Sunday, December 3 – 7th grade dance at Memphis Botanic Gardens – 8th grade dance at The Racquet Club
Save the date for Books from Birth’s third Millstone Market event on Thursday, December 6. Grab your friends and join us for an evening of literacy and laughter as we learn more about the importance of strong early childhood education. Tickets will be available online in November, so keep an eye out! To receive an email announcement when tickets become available contact Mary Braddock at mbraddock@porterleath.org.
As an affiliate of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Books from Birth is made possible with support from the Dollywood Foundation, Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation and generous community members like you.