Community Action Partnership: Molina Foundation Book Fair Last May, Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino partnered for the second year in a row with the Molina Foundation to present the 2019 Summer Book Fest and Resource Fair. CAPSBC held the first annual book fest the year before in 2018 to provide new books to hundreds of children across San Bernardino County as they kicked off their summer vacation. Studies show children who are exposed to many books from an early age have improved vocabulary, as well as increased awareness and comprehension. In addition, books expand their educational horizons and benefit them long into adulthood. No one knows about the value of early reading better than Dr. Faustino Bernadett and his wife Dr. Martha Molina Bernadett, M.D., MBA, who founded The Molina Foundation back in 2004. The goal of this national nonprofit organization is to reduce gaps in access to education and health. It has worked with more than 2,500 organizations and schools over its lifetime, donating more than 5.5 million books, as well as hosting workshops and programs for educators and families. The foundation works alongside community-based organizations and joins with preschool programs, clinics, churches, schools, family service organizations, and civic organizations that serve low-income and at-risk families. The Molina Foundation works hard to make sure a new generation of students has access to the books they need within their schools and after-school programs.
Book Fest: A Valuable Resource for the Community The Summer Book Fest 2019 and Resource Fair was an event that naturally followed the progression of Faustino “Tino” Bernadett’s outreach efforts. It was made possible by community support through sponsorships, donations, volunteers, and partner involvement. The event, designed to provide children with valuable books that will serve to advance their academic growth, also gives parents access to the resources they need to help their children achieve academic success.
At the Summer Book Fest 2019 and Resource Fair, kids received free age-appropriate books and were given opportunities to “Read with the Butterfly,” get their faces painted, and receive valuable educational materials. The children’s books were valued at $88,000, made possible by a grant from The Molina Foundation to CAPSBC as part of their “Launch into Learning” campaign. This campaign will also provide free educational resources to help children, parents, and caregivers develop a creative and nurturing atmosphere through the summer months as they read and learn together. CAPSBC does so much more for this youth of this county. It partners with a variety of groups and events each year to provide school-age children with backpacks and school supplies. Recent events include the Inland Empire Health Plan Backpack and School Supplies giveaway, and Assemblyman Mike Morrell’s “Stuff the Bus.” For more information on the Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino, visit https://www.capsbc.org/.
A Legacy of Service and Love of Reading As Vice President of The Molina Foundation, Faustino Bernadett knows the value of a good education. He also knows the strong foundation books can provide as a springboard to that education. He and his wife created The Molina Foundation out of a commitment to family and
education, and it carries on the Molina parents’ education legacy (C. David and Mary Molina are former elementary school teachers).
The Molina Foundation Through books, Dr. Faustino hopes to foster and nurture an ongoing love of learning. To that end, The Molina Foundation’s program Book Buddies distributes new books to community agencies serving underprivileged children and families. The goal? To create and enhance wordrich, healthy homes. It also fosters a WordUp initiative to empower children and families, and instill strong health and literacy skills. It achieves this through simple activities and tips to prepare them for success in kindergarten and beyond. There are also workshops for preschoolers, kindergarteners and first graders all over the country, held regularly. On My Way to Kindergarten is another program of the foundation. It’s a collection of hands-on resources for children between the ages of three and five that paves the road for kindergarten. Kids are given access to valuable resources that were actually developed with input from kindergarten teachers across the nation. Dr. Faustino Bernadett hopes the mission of The Molina Foundation continues on for many generations. To learn more about The Molina Foundation and its many programs and resources, we welcome you to visit The Molina Foundation today.