First Annual “What Was Your First Book?” Read-A-Thon

With the arrival of longer summer days, First Book-Seattle has a little more time to reflect about our inaugural year. Actually, it’s been just seven months since we kicked off our campaign to provide new books to the underserved kids in King County. What a whirlwind it’s been!

If you’ve been following this blog or our Facebook page, you already know a little about what we’ve been doing. Now we want to catch you up on our progress. In May we held our First Annual “What Was Your First Book?” Read-A-Thon at Elliott Bay Book Company. Celebrating best-loved books from childhood, 20 talented community members read their favorites to an audience of kids and grown-ups alike, and shared their memories of how books comfort, thrill, and transport, opening other lives and worlds to us.

Thanks to the dedication of these readers, our volunteers and supporters, First Book raised $3885.90 that day, enough to give each child in 11 classrooms a starter collection—six books—of his or her own to take home.

During the event we were also fortunate to welcome representatives from Kent Youth & Family Services, the beneficiary of First Book-Seattle’s very first Book Grant this spring. Because of an investment from a private family foundation, they received a permanent library for their kindergarten tutoring program.

Ibrahim accepts a collection of favorite books for Kent Youth & Family Services

We were awed and moved by what we witnessed at this event, namely, a community coming together to celebrate children and the power of story. We are educators, writers, athletes, entertainers, business owners, librarians, politicians, pilots, organizers, officers, firefighters, and parents. All of us want to help raise strong, confident kids; they are the embodiment of our potential. Literacy is one of the first steps on the path to personal fulfillment and leadership. 

Congressman Jim McDermott with First Book friends

First Book-Seattle thanks all of you for your generous support over these last several months. We can’t do it without you! If you’re interested in volunteering or donating, please contact us at seattle@firstbook.org or visit www.firstbook.org/seattle. We are an all-volunteer board, and 100% of the money we raise goes directly to the purchase of new books for children in need.

We look forward to our continued partnership and the prospect of new friends!

Just one of our four fabulous chance-drawing baskets

Thanks to these businesses and individuals whose donations supported our event:
Archie McPhee
Arena Sports-Redmond (Lil’ Kickers)
Barefoot Yoga
Bodhisattva Healing Arts
Bootyland
Caspar Babypants
Central Co-op
Chi Nguyen for Estrella Salon
Clover
Costco
Cupcake Royale
Elizabeth Austen
Elliott Bay Book Company
Emerald City Trapeze Arts
Frances McCue
Grand Central Bakery
Gregg’s Cycle
Hapkido House
Heather McHugh
High Maintenance Skin Care Studio
Hot House Spa & Sauna
Kathleen Flenniken
Kids on 45th
Kate Lebo
Larry Benesh and Rebecca Hoogs
LAZERQUICK
Macrina Bakery
Mayor Mike McGinn
McMenamins
Metropolitan Market
Molly Moon’s
Moonjar
Mrs. Cooks
Oddfellows Café + Bar
QFC
Ron Lyp Designs
Samhadi Yoga
Sarah Holt
Seattle Sounders FC
Senator Patty Murray
Shakti Vinyasa Yoga
Shawn Wong
Smith Restaurant
Stuhlberg’s
Sugar Pill
Super Jock ‘n Jill
Tom Skerritt
Top Ten Toys
Trader Joe’s
Whole Life Yoga

Rat City Rollergirl Jennifer Warnick rallied the crowd with Click, Clack, Moo

And a big tip of the hat to our readers!
Daemond Arrindell
Paul Constant
Erin Dunlap
Jody Hall
Brendan Harrison
Lacey Jane Henson
Elizabeth Kruse
Congressman Jim McDermott
Brian McGuigan
Craig Nelson
Jennie Richey
Sergeant Jay Shin
Martha Silano
Misha Stone
Lieutenant Kenny Stuart
Jennifer Warnick
Officer Tomeka Williams
Shawn Wong
Jennifer Zhan

Thank You

How often do you get to hear a Congressman, a pilot, a policewoman and other important members of the Seattle community talk about the first book that made a difference in their lives?  Thanks to the volunteers who helped make the May 19th Read-a-thon at Elliott Bay Books a huge success, we got to share this memorable experience with a crowd of families and other book lovers.

It was incredible to see how this event came together, all because of the people who volunteered their time to make it happen. Refreshments and books were swiftly arranged in an inviting display, signs and balloons were posted in the bookstore, and readers and other attendees were escorted to the reading area.

As the Volunteer Coordinator for First Book-Seattle, I can only stand in awe of what we've accomplished at our first big fundraiser.  I hope everyone who contributed to the event feels good about the difference they've made.  Not only did you allow some great individuals the chance to share the memory of their first book, but you've given a new generation of kids the chance to look back on a favorite book some day.

And this is just the beginning!  We have some creative fundraising events planned for the future.  There's a range of opportunities to help out, from joining the board to helping on a committee to taking pictures at an event.

Thanks again and hope to see you all again soon!