SEPTEMBER 2015
 4,470,948
 books distributed since December 2009!

 
THANK YOU FROM A CHILD
NEXT CHAPTER UPDATE
Founder and Executive Director Brian Floriani with Lake Bluff Village President Kathleen O'Hara at 917 North Shore Drive groundbreaking ceremony. There are 144 books pictured - the number of books a child served by us receives from birth thru 6th grade.

We can't wait to move to our new home!  Everyday, progress is being made. Walls are finished, windows are installed and exciting spaces are being created like our new flexible, multi-purpose space for meetings, weddings, book groups, birthday parties, B'nai mitzvahs, family reunions, community events and more.  

This flex space will have all the amenities of other venues like a caterer's kitchen and audio/visual equipment, but will also allow your event to be unique and impactful.  

Event rentals will be competitively priced and will help our mission become self-sustainable.Your guests will have the opportunity to have a volunteer experience that adds to the meaning and importance of your event.

We invite you to check out our expanded facility for yourself!  Hard Hat Tours are going on now.
Click here to reserve your spot!
In This Issue
Thank You From A Child
Next Chapter Update
WE NEED BOOKS!
Birdies & Books Great Success
New for Volunteers under 18
JOIN OUR TEAM
A Message From Brian
Our Mission

Bernie's Book Bank collects, processes and distributes quality new and gently used children's books to significantly increase BOOK OWNERSHIP among at-risk infants, toddlers and school-age children throughout Chicagoland.

 

We have distributed over 4 MILLION books since December 2009 and now serve more than 110,000 at-risk children annually.

Our Goals
To collect, process and distribute 4 MILLION quality books per year by the end of 2016. To serve all at-risk children in the Chicagoland area with 12 quality books per year.
Get Involved
Watch Our Video
Bernie's Book Bank Distribution Video
Bernie's Book Bank Distribution Video
WE NEED BOOKS!
We are in urgent need of gently used books for the children we serve! 

How you can help:
  • Clean off your bookshelves of outgrown books 
  • Post the link to our Where to Donate Books web page on your Facebook, Twitter, etc.:
    http://berniesbookbank.org/where-to-donate-books/
     
  • Reach out to your family and friends to collect 500 children's books and we'll come pick them up! 
     
  • Host a book drive with your business, children's school, church, synagogue, civic group or team - we'll give you everything you need including collection bins, and posters - and pick up all of the books collected!
    Contact Scott Kulefsky: [email protected] 
Thank you in advance for your help!

BIRDIES & BOOKS GREAT SUCCESS
The 2015 Birdies & Books Charity Golf Classic was a great success!  On Monday, August 31, 2015, over 100 golfers gathered at Onwentsia Club in Lake Forest. Our longest-running fundraising event, Birdies & Books provides participants with a unique and meaningful golf experience that brings companies and individuals closer to our mission. 

With presenting sponsor William Blair, and the help of 26 other corporate and individual sponsors, Bernie's Book Bank raised enough money to collect, process and distribute 170,000 quality books, which supplies 28,300 more at-risk Chicagoland children with 6 quality books each in the coming year. 

Special thanks to our Birdies & Books Committee and all of our sponsors. Read more here.
NEW FOR VOLUNTEERS UNDER AGE 18
We are proud to offer a meaningful volunteer experience for volunteers of all ages and abilities. Beginning October 15th, we will require:
  • Volunteers under the age of 18 will need to have a parent/legal guardian sign a parental consent form in order to volunteer.
  • Volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a supervising adult, parent or guardian. 
  • Groups with volunteers under the age of 16 will be required to have a ratio of 1 adult for every 4 volunteers under the age of 16.

Downloadable/printable consent form will be available on our website.

Questions? email Caryn Adolph: [email protected] or Scott Kulefsky: [email protected]
JOIN OUR TEAM
We are looking for "go-getters" to join our team!  We are growing very quickly and will be hiring for new positions as we transition to our new home.

The following FULL TIME positions are currently available (click job title for complete description):
Processing and Volunteer Supervisor
You will oversee processing of incoming books, steward volunteers in our processing center and supervise processing center staff.
Fleet Driver
You will deliver book collection materials and pick up books collected and assist our processing center team.

Benefits include: health insurance, paid vacation and holidays.
A MESSAGE FROM BRIAN
Dear fellow Berniacs,
 
We are so excited about our Next Chapter and the progress being made at our expanded facility.

You must see it to believe it!  It's a game changer for us as an organization.  Most importantly, it will be a game changer for the children we serve and the children we WILL serve!
 
I personally invite you to take a hard hat tour. Click here to sign up.
Hope to see you soon and thanks for ALL of your continued support!

Brian's signature 
Brian Floriani
Founder & Executive Director
847-780-READ (7323)
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