NEWS AND NOTES ABOUT SHELBY COUNTY BOOKS FROM BIRTH
SPRING 2014
Operation 38115 Reaches New Children Books from Birth is available to all families in Shelby County, and our goal is to have as many children enrolled as possible by making access to enrollment materials and information available where parents are, e.g. hospitals, daycares, pediatric offices, and government facilities. To ensure that we are reaching children throughout the county, a quarterly ZIP Code report tracks and compares our enrollment to the most recent census data (see the reports online at booksfrombirth.org). Through this regular review process, we recognized that the 38115 ZIP code, commonly known as Hickory Hill, had a very high concentration of eligible children but only about a third of those children were enrolled. It was clear that this community would be our focus in 2014. With the help of Fellows from the New Memphis Inst it ut e, BFB has developed a process to increase enrollment at the neighborhood level by getting to know the community and its leaders, and by building a network of "Community Champions" who help promote the program. Leading the charge in Hickory Hill is retired FedEx pilot Ron Kel l er, a volunteer who wants to help ensure every family in Hickory Hill has the opportunity to enroll. Ron started with a community inventory, a list of all ?hotspots? focused on infants and young children. He and his wife Lucy began a weekly round of visits over several months to promote BFB, distribute enrollment forms, and establish collection sites for the forms. In the first half of 2014, the area saw an increase of 216 children, or about 16% growth. Ron's work seems to be having an effect, and it is exciting to think what kind of impact this will have. We are a volunteer-driven organization with about 50 volunteers like Ron who help recruit children and raise the funds to buy books from the Imagination Library (every one of the 37,000 books mailed throughout Shelby County each month is paid for by a local donor). To get involved, visit booksfrombirth.org/ getinvolved or call the office at (901) 820-4501.
Tamara and Sierra Tynes with (L-R) Shelby Chambliss, and lunch co-chairs Lisa Morten and Diane Chambliss.
Spring Luncheon Delivers State's 20 Millionth Book The Books from Birth Spring Luncheon had the very special purpose of delivering Tennessee's 20 millionth Imagination Library book to 3-year old BFB participant Tamara Tynes. Tamara's mother, Sierra, shared her personal story about how Books from Birth helps her prepare her three daughters for success in school. Tamara was surprised with a very special copy of 'The Little Engine That Could', signed by Dol l y Part on and presented by Governor & Mrs. Hasl am (above). The luncheon, chaired by La Brubaker, Diane Chambl iss, and Lisa Mort en, featured speaker First Lady Crissy Hasl am, who was introduced by her husband Governor Bil l Hasl am. The luncheon raised over $40,000 for BFB.
Strategic Thinking for an Effective Program Since the inception of Books from Birth almost ten years ago, parents and educators have raved at how valuable it is as a tool to build a love of reading. The Imagination Library is clearly something parents appreciate and rely on as they bring up their children. In today?s world, however, programs cannot just be neat and good - they must work. For us, this means participation in BFB should result in a measurable impact on children when they go to Kindergarten. Two years ago, The Urban Child Institute study proved this link. Recently, researchers wanted to follow up with the same group of kids from the first study, now that they were in the second grade, a full two years after receiving our last book. The results show that the positive impact of Books from Birth follows children years after the program ends, and that is very exciting. This type of scientific validation makes the huge amount of anecdotal evidence from parents and educators even more valuable. I encourage you to read both studies on the ?Research? section of our website. A core group of BFB board members with years of leadership and planning experience have been meeting for over a year and have developed four values that should drive the future of BFB: -
a focus on outcomes a financially sustainable program delivery through partners, and a program which is volunteer-driven
These four values, anchored by our constants of supporting parents and thrifty spending, are the playbook for how BFB continues. Through this planning process, one of our most powerful realizations has been that each community in Shelby County must be invested in the program. All have been invited to do so. Bart l et t Mayor Keit h McDonal d is a leader in this area. When he realized that nearly two-thirds of the children in his city are enrolled, he requested that the city make an investment, which it did. Mayor McDonald also reached out to civic groups, businesses, and community leaders to help cover the costs for Bartlett children, enabling them to participate in the Imagination Library for years to come. To ensure that you and other families will be able to take advantage of this valuable resource, I encourage you to reach out to local leaders, both business and civic, to make sure that Books from Birth is a priority in your community. If you would like to help us make a case for the future of the Imagination Library in your community, please contact me directly at (901) 820-4504 or pabell@booksfrombirth.org.
- Peter Abell, Executive Director
Plough Foundation Renews Commitment In 2007, Shelby County Books from Birth would have never been able to open its doors to serve the children of the Memphis area without the support of the Pl ough Foundat ion. The Foundation?s gift of $500,000, the first major grant awarded to Books from Birth, enabled us to hire our first staff member, allowed us to register our initial recipients, and funded the purchase of our first books from Dollywood. Now, seven years later, the Plough Foundation has renewed its commitment to Books from Birth with an additional grant of $300,000. The three-year grant, awarded in December 2013, challenged the Books from Birth board and staff to raise a specific amount of funds from additional sources, a lofty goal achieved within two months of the Plough gift. ?Books from Birth was a concept that we had a lot of excitement about when it was started, and we are proud to be able to support their efforts to sustain the program for the future,? said Mike Carpent er, the Plough Foundation?s Executive Director. He added, ?we know the impact reading to children can have on their academic success and their trajectory in life.?
Pastor Keith Norman delivers the Invocation at the Spring Luncheon
Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell's Charitable Foundation commits $10,000 to Books from Birth
The Perfect Gift for Baby! Honor the arrival of a new baby with a contribution to Books from Birth. With a gift of $50 or more, we will send this adorable bib to the baby and an enrollment form to the parents. Your donation will help ensure that children throughout Shelby County are able to "Read, Eat, Sleep, Repeat" until they turn five!
Shelby County Trustee David Lenoir, left, and Governor Bill Haslam visit at the Books from Birth Spring Luncheon
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE
Shelby County Books from Birth P.O. BOX 17008
PAID
Memphis, TN 38187-0008
CORDOVA, TN PERMIT NO. 144
Board of Directors Kim MacQueen ? Chair
Casey McNeil
Peter Schutt ? Vice Chair
Katie Midgley
Diane Chambliss ? Secretary
Lisa Morten
Mack McCaul ? Treasurer
Chloee Poag
Dr. Becky Anderson
Betsy Saslawsky
Brandon Cooper
Mary Scheuner
Sally Walker Davies
Carol Seamons
Judy Drescher
Teri Shanahan
Davis Harris
Marlene Shaw
Cate Joyce
Bianca Sweeten, MD
John Lewis
Mary Trotz
Lisa Chow Mallory
Jenny Mallery Vergos
Books from Birth is changing lives by promoting kindergarten readiness and strengthening family bonds in Shelby County. We greatly appreciate your support! booksfrombirth.org (901) 820-4501 Peter Abell - Executive Director
Andra DeVincenzo - Communications Manager