After only one day of voting, BBB is in first place in the category of Literacy and Education. But even more rewarding are the comments we're receiving. Here's a taste: 

 

"Bernie's Books has put books into the hands of my students who have never owned a book before. It has made readers out of many who never had the opportunity to read at home. I see the books given to siblings in earlier years now coming into my classroom, well-worn but still cherished. Please support this organization that really DOES make a difference in the lives of children."

 

VOTE FOR BBB TODAY!

   

To cast your vote for Bernie's Book Bank, go to: http://www.chicagosunshineproject.com/topics/project/youth_edu_lit/64

 

Please help us spread the word: , or post something on Facebook! Show us some love and spread a little Sunshine our way!

Did you know that two-thirds of children who cannot read proficiently by fourth grade will end up in jail or on welfare? Or that taxpayers spend $7 billion per year on reading intervention programs, trying to catch up children who arrive to Kindergarten already behind? 

For these reasons, Bernie's Book Bank is focusing on serving younger, preschool aged children, like the ones shown above. We now distribute books twice per year to children aged 0 - 6 in more than 12,000 families through Women, Infant, Children (WIC) in Lake County, and are looking forward to adding more preschools and WIC programs this year. 

Our goal is to replicate the model we've created in Round Lake Beach, where BBB now serves every single child from birth through sixth grade! A child born today in Round Lake Beach will receive 216 books from Bernie's Book Bank by the time he or she finishes 6th grade. And that's something to celebrate! 

 

Bernie's Book Bank facilitates the collection, processing and redistribution of quality new & gently used children's books so as to significantly increase BOOK OWNERSHIP among at-risk infants, toddlers and school age children living throughout Chicagoland.

 

Our goal is to be distributing 1 MILLION books per year by 2013.

 

berniesbookbank.org

Rock the Bank! 

Please join us in welcoming the Evanston Athletic Club to the Book Drop Network! We are thrilled that the EAC has offered to be an ongoing book drop location for residents in Evanston who would like to support Bernie's Book Bank. 

"We consider ourselves to be a community club," said EAC Manager Amy Whalen. "Partnering with Bernie's Book Bank is a great way for us to give back to our community and to contribute. And I know that our members will love being a part of this!" 

If you have CHILDREN'S books to donate, drop them off at the Evanston Athletic Club, 1723 Benson Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201 � 847.866. 6190. MON-THU: 5am-11pm � FRI: 5am-10pm � SAT-SUN: 6am-10pm., http://chicagoathleticclubs.com/eac  And tell them THANKS from all of us at Bernie's Book Bank!

 

Bernie's Book Bank continues to grow and mature. This means more and more at-risk children receive more books, more quickly!  I could not be more thrilled about our progress and our commitment to improve as an organization.  All of this is a testament to many folks, working together towards one simple and important goal: connecting children needing books with books needing children!  

Brian Floriani