PHOENIX REPORT 2023

Once again, we were able to fill a number of requests from Elementary school teachers and librarians for books. Sally Hurwitz and Monica Goddard are volunteers for the Friends of the Phoenix Library program that gives gently used books to teachers. We used that opportunity to let them know about Libraries,Ltd. We also found teachers in need on the site Donors Choice.

While much of our funding was for schools in the Phoenix area, we were also able to support programs in all four corners of the state. In Chinle we supported the new Bookmobile with the purchase of books featuring indigenous authors and illustrators. Funds provided to Kids Need to Read supported a book giveaway in Page. Rural schools in Willcox, Yuma, Casa Grande, Bisbee, Globe, Flagstaff and Ganado and Bullhead City each received $500 for books for their libraries through our collaboration with the Barbara Park Foundation.

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TUCSON REPORT 2023

I would like to welcome our new member Mary Ann Johnson. We are delighted to have her on our team!

In the last twelve months we have promoted a number of children’s literacy projects reaching a variety of communities in the State.

Arivaca Early Learning Center – A community Pre-school in the small southern Arizona town of Arivaca. They serve 40-50 children ages 6 months – 5 years. We provided with books and also fabric with a jungle print for them to make cushions to sit on in their outdoor reading area.

We continue to sponsor our magazine subscriptions to 9 organizations serving over 1000 children, including the Our Family Services, in Tucson, Los Ninos Del Valle in Green Valley, The Arivaca Early Learning Center in Arivaca, the Bisbee Boys and Girls Club, in Nogales, the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Cruz, the Holsclaw YMCA, Intermountain Academy, Imago Dei middle School, and El Rio Community Health Center.

The Tohono O’odham Love of Reading month– We provided books for children and adults to be given out at 11 meeting centers throughout the Tohono O’odam Nation during their Love of Reading month. Over 300 children were served.

Manzo Elementary Early Childhood Program
Four PACE classrooms, with a total of 50 children, received books for their read at home program.

Aviva—Is dedicated to helping children in the care of the Department of Child Safety. We provided books and correlating stuffed animals purchased at Kohl’s for parents and children when they participate in family visits. We also participated in their Christmas Book Drive donating over 200 books to a holiday drive sponsored by AVIVA Children’s Services. The books were distributed to youth in foster care throughout southern Arizona.

Pio Decimo – We provided books and also books with correlating stuffed animals from Kohls for their Early Learning Center. The programs’ goals are to increase social and emotional development along with kindergarten readiness.

Los Ninos Del Valle-Green Valley— An Intergenerational Preschool for children age 2–Kindergarten. We provided funds for a family Literacy Night. A Book bag and book were given to each child.

Worlds of Words Library, University of Arizona College of Education– We supplied funding for books for a special program for teachers of Global Recommended reading material for K-12. Eleven different global story boxes were gathered and made available for teacher classroom check out. We also helped fund a teacher’s workshop for books and an author as a guest speaker

Literacy Connects– We provided books for their 3 Outreach Programs, Reach Out and Read, Reading Seed, and Stories That Soar.

Road Runner Elementary School We provided books for their Library which had no funding and was in great need.