[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 72 (Friday, May 18, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E858]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING FIRST BOOK

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 18, 2012

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of 
Representatives to join me in honoring First Book on the occasion of 
their twentieth anniversary and in celebrating their work on behalf of 
children in need, here in the District of Columbia and across the 
country.
  First Book is a nonprofit organization that provides brand-new books 
and educational resources to schools and community programs that work 
with children from low-income families. Since 1992 it has distributed 
over 90 million new books to children in need.
  First Book was founded in Washington, DC, twenty years ago this week, 
by Peter Gold, Elizabeth Arky, and Kyle Zimmer, who recognized the 
critical need for books among the children of the city's poorest 
neighborhoods, and how this limits children's futures. The children of 
the District of Columbia were the first beneficiaries of First Book's 
work, and D.C. children have been a special focus of the organization 
over the years, even as it expanded to every state in the union and 
Canada. In the past two years alone, First Book has provided more than 
300,000 brand-new books to children across this city.
  Ms. Zimmer continues to lead the organization today, and her vision 
and passion have enabled First Book to grow into a world-class social 
enterprise with an unsurpassed record of success.
  First Book's commitment to the children, teachers, and local 
community leaders they serve is realized through the organization's 
ground-breaking business models. Reflecting the best of social sector 
and private sector partnerships, First Book works with the publishing 
industry to create new and innovative ways to get books and other 
educational resources to children who would otherwise go without them. 
By providing access to a steady stream of new and quality books, First 
Book is elevating the quality of education, giving teachers the 
resources they need to help their students become more successful in 
school and in life.
  I ask the House to join me in honoring Kyle Zimmer and her colleagues 
at First Book, and further ask the members to introduce First Book to 
teachers in their home districts. The more schools and community 
programs join First Book's network, the closer we will come to 
achieving equity in education for all children.

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