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Health & Fitness

BIG progress at Books for Keeps – 3,153 down, just 546 to go

Today, Books for Keeps is sharing some big news. A successful week – combined with the news that we have received a majorgrant – cut the number of un-sponsored children down the 546.

Just two weeks ago, we posted here about needing sponsors for 1,195 children.

We’re blown away by this outpouring of support for what Books for Keeps is doing. The grant we’ve received is specifically meant to fund our program expansion to Winterville Elementary School, one of two Athens schools we will serve for the first time in 2014.

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It’s also the largest single grant ever received by Books for Keeps. Wow.

Add that to a stellar week for donations – we had a 24-hour challenge to meet a $1,500 match from an anonymous donor – and we are chugging along toward our goal. (We met the challenge, by the way – with just moments to spare on Friday afternoon!)

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In 2014, we’ll distribute 45,000 books. To 3,700 children. In nine schools.

Can we do it?

If we keep up the pace, we can. But we have to keep up that pace.

We still need sponsors for 546 children, a little more than 26 classrooms. Considering how many children we’ll be serving in 2014, that’s a small number.

But it’s still significant. We’ve committed to provide 12 books each to those children. We can’t go back on our commitment.

So, it’s up to us to make sure we have the books we need. And we must have faith that our community – which continually blows us away with its support – will step up to that challenge.

It takes just $25 to sponsor a child, providing him or her with 12 books to read all summer. Businesses, extended families, church groups, or civic groups can sponsor an entire classroom for $500. You can donate online or mail us a check – click this link to visit our Donate page.

We will also provide gift certificates if you’re donating in someone’s honor. Just tell us in the memo who the donation is for, and we’ll email you with a certificate you can print and stuff in their stocking!

Even if you can’t donate, you can still help. Spread the word – by emailing this post to friends and family, or by sharing our posts on FacebookDonate your used books, or host a book drive.

However you choose to help – thank you! Your efforts make a difference in the life of a child!

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