Hello Friends and Family,

I hope this email finds you well! As the last day of March winds down, I want to take a moment to share something exciting with you. March is National Reading Month, and it's also the month of the Open Books Read-a-thon. This fun and impactful event aims to raise funds to provide books and reading programs to Chicago kids in need.

I became involved in Open Books because I wanted to help more children experience the pure joy and happiness that I feel every time I crack open a good book. For the Read-a-thon, I've committed to reading eight wonderful books over the next month. In exchange, I'm asking for your support through a contribution to Open Books. While I intended to send this out at the beginning of March, I figured better late than never!

I'm genuinely excited about the books I'll be reading, and I'll be sure to share a brief synopsis of each one with you. Your support, no matter how big or small, will go a long way in bringing smiles to the faces of many kids.

Thank you in advance for any contribution you may choose to make. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of some deserving kids.

Nancy

Open Books' Associate Board is hosting a month-long Read-a-Thon throughout March 2025, in honor of National Reading Month, to raise funds and awareness for Open Books' signature reading and book access programs. Considering Open Books' mission to support literacy skill development and encourage everyone to enjoy reading, this is a fantastic opportunity to get involved and show why you love to read! Please consider supporting one of our readers or joining in the fun yourself - you can sign up here or contact development@open-books.org to learn more and get started. 

This year, the Read-a-Thon team is working hard to raise $45,000 for Open Books' literacy and book access programs. Consider what your donations can support:

$25 can provide books and supplies for one 1st or 2nd grader in our year-long Reading Buddies program
$50 can support a month of upkeep of our Little Free Library network in Lawndale
$100 can provide 30 new, high-interest book titles for our youth book granting efforts
$250 can fund supplies for one of our eight-week-long Early Childhood Literacy Residencies in at-home daycares
$500 can support the development of resources for parents and caregivers in our target communities

Open Books' Mission

Open Books is a nonprofit literacy organization that helps transform lives through reading, writing, and the unlimited power of books. We partner with communities to ensure that youth and families have equitable access to be lifelong readers. Open Books is committed to working in community with our neighborhood partners toward a collective effort to grow and foster a literacy-strong Chicago. We work to break down systemic barriers to reading and literacy and build strong values of reading. Through neighborhood partnerships, we design and implement literacy initiatives for youth, families, caregivers, and communities on the South and West sides of Chicago by providing high-quality resources, experiences, and book-centered spaces. We employ people power and a variety of pathways for books to fuel our placemaking initiatives so that reading can happen anywhere, anytime. To learn more, please visit www.open-books.org.