Literacy for a Lifetime - Grant Matching Program

Literacy for a Lifetime is a fabulous program sponsored by Usborne Books & More to spread literacy in our community. Usborne Books & More will match 50% of all book donations. Below are just some of the current and past ways I've helped organizations through this program. Do you have an organization, school or library dear to your heart that needs books? Contact me and let me know how I can help!
Jigsaw Puzzle & Book Drive - December 2020

This Christmas, I am pledging to donate 30 jigsaw puzzles & books for kids at the Bay Area Crisis Nursery in Concord https://www.bayareacrisisnursery.org and I need your help! For each box of greeting cards you buy from me, I will donate one jigsaw puzzle and book. You get a box of beautifully embellished greeting cards and a kid gets a gift! It's a win-win! See the card designs here: picturebooksandmore.weebly.com/cards-for-a-cause.html

Thanks to Evan & Jasmine Begin, Justin & Jessica Billmeier, Brigitte Black, Melody Butte-Black, Rachel Capiral, Lauren Cook, Danielle Fisher, Anton & Margaret Franckeiss, Trisha Fratello, Lindsay Furuyama, Charlie & Heather Hollis, Jason & Ashleigh Laub, Andrew & Mahsa Lindeman, Amanda Livingood, Danya Luchessi, Alexis Mazzoli, Shanna McCord, Renee Pearson, Lucio & Patricia Raymundo, Daniela Rinard, Bill & Debbie Storey, Aleksandra Torbin, Joe & Katie Trovato, Tonya White, and John Chapman.
Paradise Elementary School - November 2018

The deadliest and most destructive fire in California wiped out the entire town of Paradise, CA. The town lost 8 out of 9 of its schools and the Butte County Department of Education is temporarily using classroom space in neighboring school districts & businesses for the 5000 kids displaced by the fire. With the help of these generous donors and the 50% match from Usborne Books & More, I will be able to provide $3387 in new books for Paradise Elementary School's 26 teachers & their students:

Aleksandra Torbin, Alex Oglesby (pledge), Alexa Donovan-Bowers, Andrea Nichols, Archana Myer, Ayse Gurbuzer, Carolyn Murray, Christine Hansen, Claire Phillips, Cristina Mendoza, Deanne & Levi Vargas, Deepa Rekha, Denali Allen, Diana Kaplenko, Elizabeth Wolfe, Emily O'Connor, Emily Stone, Erin Mitchell, Evelyn Wilhelmi, Griselda Wong, Hayley Weemaes, Heather & Charlie Hollis, Izabela Szczuka-Wu, Jaeme Laczkowski, Jaime & Tim Steele, Jaqueline Kraft, Jasmine & Evan Begin, Jennifer Crain, Jenn Quinteros, Jennifer Dilts, Jerson & Josie Sarongelo, Jessica & Justin Billmeier, Kim Rodriguez, Krista & Chris Baughman, Kristiana Tom, Laura Lista Lescure, Lauren Davis, Lauren Mewes, Leewan & Lulu Yeoman, Lindsay LaBarr (pledged), Lindsay Furuyama, Lisa Asch, Lisa Labarile, Lori Rivers (pledged), Mahsa Lindeman, Marcella Vigil (pledged), Margaret & Anton Franckeiss, Mary Ann Raymundo, Maya Kraft, Megan Maniguerra (pledged), Megan Mobley, Melissa Foley, Melody Butte-Blatt, Nancy Hu, Nicole Bugna-Doyle, Patria & Stephen Guillen, Rosa Naja, Sarah Garcia, Shannon King, Sheri Talusik, Sophie Aull, Suzanne Rogges, Tracy Gonzalez, Vanessa Bratcher, Vanessa Chan, and Vuon Lu-Nguyen.
Pleasant Hill Rotary Club - 2016, 2017, and 2018

In the past, the Pleasant Hill Rotary Club would give their weekly speakers a thank you gift. However, for the past 3 years, the rotary club chose to spend their annual speaker gift budget on new books for two school libraries in the District. Usborne Books & More matched 50% of the donation and I have donated a total of $2250 in books to Gregory Gardens & Fair Oaks Elementary Schools!
Christmas Book Drive - December 2016

I'd like to thank for following individuals for donating funds for 212 new books for children at the Bay Area Crisis Nursery in Concord https://www.bayareacrisisnursery.org: Griselda Wong, Lisa Tyler, Greg Scott, Brian Bouyea, Grace Szeto, Sabrina Cheng, Soleil Brix, Gina Garitson, Erin Mayette, Allison Anderson, Sarah Gavin, Debora Finkler, Cyn Coulouthros, Nicole Lowans, Wendy Borden Langley, Chari Johnson, Denise Linley, Brittany Trammel, Anna Ranes, Alicia Gholami, Susan Heffran, Michelle Estabrook, Lisa Asch, Khrissy Alvarez, Alexa Donovan Bowers, Michelle Frankland, Betsy Messman, Tracy Gonzalez, Yasmeen Bonaflor, Tabitha Middendorf, Lisa Sherrill, Larisa Raymundo, Danielle Zazueta, and Cherie Ann Eubanks.
Share the Love Book Drive - February 2016

I'd like to thank the following individuals for helping me reach my goal of sponsoring 25 foster kids in the Northern California Family Center: Bill & Mary Ann Raymundo, Alexa Donovan Bowers, Jerrid Vannelli, Alexa Donovan Bowers, Julie Neward, Kelle Pereira, Lisa Asch, Cori Giambastiani, Lindsay Furuyama, Vanessa Morgan, Kristina Bao, Anna Stuppi, Michelle Estabrook, Jasmine Begin, Kara Murphy, Sarah Gavin, Sharon Marta, Lourdes Valladolid, Marissa Martinez, Jo Talbot, and Toby Selby.

These kids are removed from abusive/dangerous situations with nothing but the clothes they are wearing. Why Books? Books provide the tools for empowerment. Books illuminate the mind. Books change lives. A $36 donation provided a bag filled with $50 of books (because Usborne is matching a portion of the donations and I am donating my commission).
Since 1978 Northern California Family Center (NCFC) has been providing intensive clinical, shelter, and referal services for runaway, homeless, neglected and abused youth in Contra Costa County. http://www.ncfc.us/Pages/default.aspx. Please watch this short video: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lOeQUwdAjE0
I'd like to thank the Hey Nice Garden, A San Francisco Bay Area landscaping and garden design for their generous donation to provide books to local preschools. http://heynicegarden.com/
Cuddle Bear Book Drive - September 2015

In conjunction with Pediatric Cancer Awareness, I held a Cuddle Bear Book Drive. Not only did Usborne Books & More match 50% of all donations, but Usborne Books & More also donated a portion of every Cuddle Bear book/plush to the Scott Carter Foundation, an organization which raises money to fund pediatric cancer research. http://www.scottcarterfoundation.org/

I'd like to thank the donors for helping me in raising 30 sets of Cuddle Bear Books & Cuddle Bear Plushes, which were donated to children at Kaiser Oakland Pediatrics.
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