[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 118 (Friday, August 3, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1440]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CELBRATING FIRST BOOK'S 20TH ANNIVERSARY

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                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 2, 2012

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. 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 celebrating their work on behalf of 
children in need, in Illinois and across the country.
  First Book is a nonprofit that provides brand-new books and 
educational resources to schools and community programs serving 
children from low-income families. Since 1992 they have distributed 
over 90 million new books to kids in need.
  First Book was founded twenty years ago by Peter Gold, Elizabeth Arky 
and Kyle Zimmer. After working with children in some of the poorest 
neighborhoods in the Nation's capital and seeing how their futures were 
limited by their lack of access to books and resources, they created 
First Book.
  Ms. Zimmer continues to lead the organization today, and her vision 
and passion have helped First Book grow from a local nonprofit to a 
global social enterprise with an unsurpassed record of success.
  First Book is set apart by more than their deep commitment to the 
children, teachers and community leaders they serve. By working with 
the publishing industry to create new and innovative ways to get books 
and resources to children in need, they are creating a ground-breaking 
and self-sustaining model that benefits both the donors and the 
recipients.
  First Book is also committed to empowering teachers and program 
leaders, ensuring that the educators closest to the children choose the 
books that have the greatest chance of turning those young people into 
lifelong readers.
  I ask the House to join me in honoring First Book and further ask the 
members to introduce First Book to teachers and community leaders in 
their home districts. The more schools and local programs join First 
Book's network, the closer we will come to achieving equity in 
education for all our children.

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