Book Trust Passes the $1,000,000 mark!
March 26, 2008
It's official! Since first piloting Book Trust in 2001, participating children have purchased over one million dollars worth of books! That translates to about 500,000 books directly from Book Trust funds now in the homes of children who most need them. Including books bought with parent dollars over the allotted monthly $7, and via teachers accruing and spending bonus points to bring more books into classroom libraries...children have received and benefitted from a total of approximately 700,000 books! We are so proud and excited to have passed this milestone, and look forward to the many more millions - of books - to come.
Thanks to all our volunteers, donors, and teachers who have made this possible!
Our Seventh State: Book Trust Prepares to Enter Five Schools in Seattle, WA
January 24, 2008
Washington will become Book Trust’s seventh participating state this February, when five very high need area elementary schools will be trained in Book Trust. Every eligible child – approximately 1,200 children – in all grades will order books from February to May this year, and we predict a lot of growth in the Seattle area for years to come! We’re excited to serve our first schools in the Pacific Northwest, and look forward to building our partnership with the Seattle community.
Barnes and Noble Partners with Fort Collins Community in very successful holiday Book Drive
December 15, 2007
Book Trust’s hometown Barnes and Noble sponsored a community-wide book drive to benefit Book Trust students in Fort Collins, CO. Community members contributed over 3,000 books to our participating kids, which means each Book Trust student had two additional books this holiday season. Thanks to all who made this happen!
Book Trust Grows into a New Space
November 25, 2007
Book Trust has moved to expanded office space! Many thanks for this gift from Doug and Jill Schatz – Book Trust has moved into office space that allows us plenty of room to grow, with a great view of Old Town Fort Collins. Our new address is:
201 Linden St., Fort Collins, CO 80524
Come up to the second floor and visit us some time!
The Final Fall Count of Book Trust Schools Is In…We’ve Grown 270 Percent!
November 10, 2007
During last year’s all-too-short summer months, students and teachers alike took a welcome break from their classrooms. With school out of session, Book Trust worked to facilitate spectacular growth. From our 43 schools reached last year, this fall we’ve expanded into 115 schools to serve over 13,000 children and 1,100 teachers!
This is all thanks to our amazing group of supporters and volunteers. Thanks to everyone who made this growth possible – you’re bringing the joy of reading to many.
Time for a Make Over – Book Trust to Get a ‘New Look’ This Spring
October 21, 2007
Welcome to a sneak-peak of Book Trust’s new logo and homepage! We’ve teamed up with Fort Collins-based Light Source Creative Communications, to update all our materials and bring a fresh information and a new look to our website.
Light Source has a history of supporting many area non-profits with their willingness to work with such organizations’ cost constraints. Through that willingness, we are able to benefit from their world-class design staff.
You can learn more about Light Source at www.lightsourcecreative.com
Reading Recovery Partners With Book Trust to Train New Teachers in 58 New Schools
October 11, 2007
Book Trust has a group of wonderful new partners – the dedicated and inspiring teachers trained in Reading Recovery. Reading Recovery is an internationally acclaimed program that provides reluctant first grade readers with one-on-one tutoring to help them excel.
Reading Recovery teachers in Colorado and California generously gave their time to be trained to introduce the Book Trust process to each of their schools. We so appreciated every teacher’s dedication and excitement at the opportunity to provide books for children. You all went above and beyond to make sure every eligible teacher and child in your schools were ready to participate.
Thank you for everything you have done, and are still doing to support Book Trust’s mission as well as your own! Learn more about Reading Recovery at: www.readingrecovery.org
Growth in Silicon Valley! The Tosa Foundation Brings Book Trust to Five Additional Ravenswood District Schools
October 7, 2007
Book Trust has just moved into five schools in the Ravenswood school district in Silicon Valley, CA! Thanks so much to Tashia and John Morgridge, Sr., for sponsoring this incredible expansion. The schools join currently participating East Palo Alto Academy Elementary to create excellent Book Trust coverage in the area.
The Book Trust Story Project Ramps Up in Fort Collins
September 20, 2007
FACT: Children love to hear stories from the people they care most about! True stories, made-up stories, long stories, short stories, new stories, or stories handed down for generations. In the same way that books capture our imagination, teach us new things, and let us travel to places we’ve never visited, storytelling does the same.
The “Story Project” is an effort to collect the stories children participating in Book Trust have grown up hearing from those they love. The stories are being compiled from family members and friends in the hopes of allowing others to enjoy the compelling and creative tales that first inspired original listeners.
A group of dedicated volunteers in the Rocky Mountain region of Colorado have been meeting with participating families to capture these unique narratives. Thank you, Christine Kneeland, the amazing volunteer spearheading the effort, Jeannie Craft, Irish Elementary teacher and our own board member, Nancy Burns, and Tricia Diehl, both dedicated volunteers - for making this happen! Please stay tuned for more updates on its progress, and our plans for the finished products.
If you or someone you know would be interested in collecting oral traditions from your community for the “Story Project”, please contact the Book Trust office.
Maui County Becomes the First County Nationally to Have Book Trust in Every Eligible School
September 15, 2007
In Hawai’i , numerous local donors collaborated with Book Trust, the Community Foundation of Hawai’i, and Scholastic to bring Book Trust to the last remaining nine schools in Maui County – now, the first county ever to have every elementary school participate in the program!
Book Trust Hawai’i Gains Staff! Welcome to Desiree Abreu
August 30, 2007
Des is a Maui native and has worked within the Hawai’i Department of Education for many years. Currently, she is also the Student Services Coordinator at Makawao elementary. Des is a seasoned Book Trust administrator, having implemented the program there for several years. Des is a Book Trust school trainer who is bringing many of our newest schools on board this fall, and manages communication and support for all 20 currently participating Maui County schools. She is invaluable through her passion for Book Trust’s mission, her familiarity with Hawai’i, its schools, and the needs of its varied communities. Book Trust Hawai’i is very much looking forward to utilizing her skills, energy, and drive to their full potential! Thank you, Des.
Book Trust and Scholastic Book Clubs Partner to Bring Book Trust to Thousands of Additional Students
August 15, 2007
In a landmark partnership, Scholastic, Inc. is making $400,000 of book buying value available to very high need participating Book Trust schools in the 2007/2008 school year, enabling Book Trust to leverage the contributions of its donors even further, and ensuring thousands of additional children will be able to choose and own books! Both organizations are excited about this mutually beneficial relationship and look forward to seeing it develop in the coming years.
Three Greeley, Colorado Rotaries Team Up with Book Trust and the Greeley Community Foundation to Expand Their Support of Greeley Schools!
August 2, 2007
Many thanks to the Greeley Community Foundation in Colorado, which along with local Rotaries and other Greeley residents, are enabling Book Trust to reach students in all grade levels at our two Greeley schools, Jefferson and Billie Martinez elementaries.
Book Trust Grows Its Staff!
August 2, 2007
The new school year brings with it a change of seasons, a change of classrooms, and at the Book Trust office this year, a change of staff. We’re happy to welcome two new additions –Ken Ghalambor and Kim Pierce.
Ken is a native Californian, who received his bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies and Planning from the University of California, San Diego. He had worked as a program specialist at the Southwest Wetlands Interpretive Association for three years before making his big move to Colorado. Ken enjoys music, food, nature, his niece Evie, and has just purchased his first-ever winter coat!
Kim Pierce is a native Coloradoan who graduated from Colorado State University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She worked previously as a columnist for the Loveland Reporter-Herald, and came to Book Trust from Altitude Sports & Entertainment in Denver. Kim comes to us with ‘connections’ in the world of education, as her mother is a long-time teacher at Book Trust-participating Tavelli Elementary School in Fort Collins, Colorado. Kim enjoys reading, music, Chai tea and playing with her massive St. Bernard “puppy,” Sal.
We look forward to a wonderful year and are glad to be working with such a great group of people!
Book Trust Partners with The Community Foundation of Greeley and Weld County!
July 20, 2007
Book Trust is very pleased and honored to announce our partnership with the Community Foundation of Greeley and Weld County. The new Book Trust fund held within the foundation will give all residents an easy way to support the program and bring the joy of reading to children in their community.
Thanks to the Greeley, Redeye, and Centennial rotaries, and the Tointon Family Foundation for partnering with us thus far! You have brought much joy to hundreds of Greeley children over the past few years. We look forward to growing further in Weld County, with your help and the help of the broader Greeley community.
Thank you, Greeley! Thank you, Community Foundation of Greeley and Weld County! Here's to the many thousands of books you will be bringing to Greeley schools, brightening the lives of so many students and their families!
Follow this link to read about the new partnership in the Greeley Tribune's July 20th edition.
Morgridge Family Foundation Supports Colorado Growth with $135,000 grant
June 1, 2007
Book Trust will team up with Scholastic, Inc. and the Morgridge Family Foundation of Denver, CO to bring Book Trust to the kindergarten and first grades of 58 new Colorado schools! The schools are located across the state, in Cherry Creek, Denver Public, Douglas County, Mesa County, Thompson Valley, and Valley R-1 school districts.
Strong Foundation Brings Growth to Book Trust Hawai’i
April 30, 2007
The Strong Foundation of Honolulu has granted Book Trust $100,000 in support of its Hawai’i program! Funds will be used to expand Book Trust throughout the state, reach more children, and hire a part-time Book Trust Hawai'i coordinator. Thanks to all at the Strong Foundation for making this possible!
Start your holiday shopping early and support Book Trust!
The Barnes and Noble in Fort Collins, CO will be sponsoring a book fair to benefit Book Trust from October 21st-27th, 2006!
Want to help spread the word? Great! Print some vouchers and hand them out to friends, family, everyone! Thanks for your help in making the first annual Barnes and Noble/Book Trust book fair a success!
.jpg)
