[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13254]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF BOOKS FOR AFRICA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 9, 2013

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to the staff, 
board, donors, and volunteers of Books for Africa on the occasion of 
the 25th anniversary of this nonprofit organization based in Saint 
Paul, Minnesota. Since its founding in 1988, Books for Africa has grown 
into the largest shipper of donated text and library books to the 
African continent, having shipped over 27 million books to 48 
countries. In 2012 alone, Books for Africa shipped more than 2.2 
million books to 22 African countries.
  Ending the book famine in Africa is the mission that led Thomas Warth 
to found Books for Africa. Troubled by a chronic shortage of books in 
Africa and the reality that 40 percent of school-age children do not 
attend school, Mr. Warth put his vision and enthusiasm into an ongoing 
commitment to transform lives by facilitating the shipment of container 
after container of books that put real books in the hands of real 
people. By sending textbooks to areas with empty shelves and into the 
hands of children eager to read, learn, and explore the world of 
literature, Books for Africa is making a difference in the lives of 
young people. Books for Africa is promoting literacy, and empowering 
the next generation to break the endless cycle of poverty that will 
improve quality of life.
  This success would not have been possible without the joint 
partnership of public and private sectors. Books for Africa frequently 
works with USAID, Peace Corps, and the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation to 
deliver books. Together with the generous support of publishers, 
schools, libraries, organizations and individuals who donate books, 
Books for Africa is making a positive impact in the lives of people in 
African countries.
  Mr. Speaker, in honor of Thomas Warth and the dedicated staff, 
partners, donors, board, and volunteers, I am pleased to submit this 
statement for the Congressional Record recognizing the 25th anniversary 
of Books for Africa.

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