WASHINGTON, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- First Book, a
nonprofit dedicated to educational equity as a path out of poverty,
today announced the launch of Black Kids Matter, an initiative
designed to amplify, celebrate and empower the voices of
Black children. As part of the
initiative, First Book will distribute 17,000 culturally relevant
books that showcase diverse characters, voices and life experiences
to children of color in underserved communities, thanks to support
from presenting sponsor National Grid and partner TD Bank. The
campaign is being introduced in recognition of Juneteenth
(June 19th), a holiday
celebrating the emancipation of those who had been enslaved in
the United States.
"This celebration of the voices of Black and Brown children comes at a critical time in our
country when we all need to listen and encourage children of color
to find and share their voice," said Kyle
Zimmer, President, CEO and Co-founder of First Book. "At the
same time, research confirms that children who see themselves in
the books they read are more likely to embrace reading, and it is
also essential for all children to see their peers represented in
the books they read and to hear their stories – to encourage
understanding, empathy and inclusivity. We are so grateful to our
presenting sponsor National Grid and our partner TD Bank for their
support in launching this campaign."
Black Kids Matter kicked off in seven states across the Eastern
seaboard last month, where educators encouraged their students to
express the many ways that Black
and Brown kids are special. Those
educators submitted a wonderful array of videos, drawings, writing
and poetry expressing the voices of the kids of color they serve. A
selection of that content can be viewed here.
"National Grid actively looks for ways we can reach out and
empower the communities we serve. We recognize that working toward
education equity will benefit our communities for decades to come,"
said Badar Khan, US President of
National Grid. "Projects like these provide access to more
educational opportunities, which can ultimately lead to better
jobs. We are excited to partner with First Book to provide children
with books, allowing them to read at home."
As part of the campaign, both National Grid, and TD Bank –
through the TD Ready Commitment – are enabling First Book to make
books available through schools and programs serving children in
low-income and historically excluded communities. The educators,
members of the First Book Network specifically serving children in
need, will select book titles best suited for their students or
program participants in pre-K through grade 12 – all from First
Book's Stories for All Project™. The books are being distributed
throughout June, just in time for children to have on hand for
summer reading.
"When you look at the research, many 'book deserts' in the U.S.
today are concentrated in low-income communities. On top of that,
lack of access is one of the greatest contributors to educational
inequity in the United States,"
said Shelley Sylva, Head of U.S
Social Impact at TD Bank. "Through the TD Ready Commitment, we're
focused on supporting organizations aimed at closing those gaps,
which is why we are so excited to be supporting First Book and the
Black Kids Matter initiative to get more books into the homes of
children across the country."
To learn more about the Black Kids Matter Initiative, click
here.
CONTACT:
First Book
Ian Kenison
ikenison@firstbook.org
603-568-0558
National Grid Media Relations
781-907-3980
TD Bank
Miranda.Garrison@td.com
About First Book
Founded in Washington, D.C., in 1992 as a 501(c)3
nonprofit social enterprise, First Book is a leader in the
educational equity field. Over its 29-year history, First Book has
distributed more than 200 million books and educational resources,
with a retail value of more than $2 billion. First Book believes
education offers children in need the best path out of poverty.
First Book breaks down barriers to quality education by providing
its Network of more than 500,000 registered teachers, librarians,
after school program leaders, and others serving children in need
with millions of free and affordable new, high-quality books,
educational resources, and basic needs items through the
award-winning First Book Marketplace nonprofit eCommerce site. The
First Book Network comprises the largest and fastest-growing
community of formal and informal educators serving children in
need.
First Book also expands the breadth and depth of the education
field through a family of social enterprises, including First Book
Research & Insights, its proprietary research initiative, and
the First Book Accelerator, which brings best-in-class
research-based strategies to the classroom via relevant, usable
educator resources. First Book Impact Funds target support to areas
of need, such as rural communities or increasing diversity in
children's books.
For more information, visit firstbook.org or follow
the latest news on Facebook and Twitter.
About National Grid
National Grid (NYSE: NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean
energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people through
our networks in New York,
Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. National Grid is transforming
our electricity and natural gas networks with smarter, cleaner, and
more resilient energy solutions to meet the goal of reducing
greenhouse gas emissions.
For more information, please visit our website, follow
us on Twitter, watch us on YouTube, like us
on Facebook and find our photos on Instagram.
National Grid is dedicated to acting responsibly. Last October,
they released their Responsible Business Charter, which lays out
the company's commitments to the environment, employees, customers,
and communities. Some of the ways they serve their communities are
by partnering with charity organizations, focusing on lower income
communities, and upskilling young people to help grow the future
workforce.
About TD Ready Commitment
TD has a
long-standing commitment to enriching the lives of its customers,
colleagues and communities. As part of its corporate citizenship
platform, the TD Ready Commitment, TD is targeting CDN $1
billion (U.S. $775 million) in total by 2030 towards
community giving in four areas critical to opening doors for a more
inclusive and sustainable tomorrow – Financial Security, Vibrant
Planet, Connected Communities and Better Health. Through the TD
Ready Commitment, TD aspires to link its business, philanthropy and
human capital to help people feel more confident - not just about
their finances, but also in their ability to achieve their personal
goals in a changing world. For further information,
visit td.com/tdreadycommitment.
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SOURCE First Book