My Big Birthday Wish

Today is my birthday.

Not just any birthday. The big 50. The half century marker.

I’ve got plans to celebrate that may or may not involve cake (it will involve cake), but a big birthday deserves a big birthday wish. I hope a few of you out there will be able to help.

First, background…

I’m a book person. Obviously. Most likely, so are you, that’s why you’re on my blog. So we all get it, and by “it,” I mean, we all know how incredibly powerful books are, for any number of reasons.

Yet far too many young people in our country do not own a single book of their own. They have good parents, but what money the family makes has to go to food and rent and there isn’t much left afterward.

And this problem is far bigger than you may realize. In middle class neighborhoods, there is an average of 12 books per child. In high poverty neighborhoods, for every 300 children, there is only 1 age-appropriate book. This is true in the place where you live. It is not another state’s problem.

But it is a problem we must address.

Reading does more than improve vocabulary or teach stories. It builds confidence, models how to achieve goals, improves empathy and social skills. Reading skills allow a person to navigate life’s challenges and exposes them to new ideas and perspectives. It inspires positive personality traits, and teaches creativity, which is a vital skill when we ask a young person raised in poverty to imagine themselves in college or in a dream job.

And poor reading skills are far too often associated with more poverty, crime, and chronic health problems.

My birthday wish is to help change that. All of that.

Some of you know about the incredible teen writer’s organization called Teen Author Boot Camp. I’m working with them on a new initiative called Book Drop. This program will purchase a book for every child in a high poverty school. In addition, the author of those purchased books will visit the school and spend the day there, talking about the importance of reading and writing. It will be a day the children will not forget.

This program will change lives, and change futures. It’s going to be amazing.

But to get this off the ground, we need donations. TABC has set up a link via Paypal for any amount you can give. 100% of donated funds purchases the books for these students. I know not everyone is in a position to donate and that’s all right. But if you are, it will make a huge difference for us.

PLEASE CLICK HERE IF YOU CAN HELP.

If you are a business and want more information, please leave a comment below and I’ll email you about ways to benefit a school in your immediate area, and how you can be part of the celebration of books.

If you know of a business that might be interested, please reach out to them. I am happy to send them more information.

And since it is a big birthday, please know that I intend to make this a most incredible year, in any number of ways. But for the writing part of my life, I couldn’t do this without all of you.

Stay tuned for a lot of excitement to come! (And I’m serious about that!)