Give Back, Give Books

Rochester Education Foundation encourages the community to give books to city school students through our ongoing "Give Back, Give Books" program.

Since the launch of the program in Fall 2006 we have collected and distributed more than 22,000 new books to city students and to city school libraries.

Donations have also created a lending library of Books on Tape and CDs for use in English classes, and the distribution of 5,000 literacy calendars donated by Wegmans. Thank you to all our generous donors.

We continue to accept new books and the funds to buy more books and help support the distribution of them. Many books have been given directly to students through our book fairs. We also like to give books to support events that promote family literacy and other activities that encourage reading among city students, including book clubs. We also support summer reading programs. Having new books to give provides REF with a valuable tool to help teachers and families motivate young people and encourage reading.

REF encourages companies and organizations to conduct drives for new books. Book drives for Give Back, Give Books have been conducted by M&T Bank, Klein Steel, Kodak's Corporate Business Research Division, the University Health Service of the University of Rochester and Empire Justice Center.

Sound interesting? We'll be happy to work with you on a book or fundraising campaign of your own to encourage this positive support of student reading.

We'll give the books away or we will work with your group, class or business if you would like to give the books personally to students at a city school.

Did you know that...

• Many city school students do not have books at home.
• The average fiction book in city school libraries is about 20 years old.
• Providing books to children and school libraries is a proven way to help students become more successful academically and in the future.

Support the Program

Use the button at right to make a donation in support of REF and Give Back, Give Books.

Help us make a difference.

Would you like to:

• launch a drive in your school, business or organization?
• learn where to buy or drop off books locally?
• support the campaign with a donation?
• buy books online?

You'll find all that and more on the Give Back, Give Books website:
     http://www.givebackgivebooks.org