First Book Blog - Education News & Stories

First Book and One Word at a Time to Host Kwame Alexander’s National Literacy Pep Rally on September 16

Posted in: Press Room

Free Virtual Event for Children, Families, and Educators Celebrates National Literacy Month Washington, D.C. – Sept. 10, 2025 – The nonprofits First Book and One Word at a Time are joining forces to host a high-energy, nationwide virtual Literacy Pep Rally on Tuesday, September 16 at 1:00 p.m. ET , led by New York Time...

KPMG U.S. Foundation President Anita Whitehead Appointed to First Book Board of Directors

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Washington, D.C. – Sept. 9, 2025 – First Book, the national nonprofit dedicated to furthering educational opportunity for children in low-income communities, has appointed Anita Whitehead , the president and chair of the KPMG U.S. Foundation (KPMG), to its Board of Directors. Anita’s career at KPMG spans more than 20 y...

First Book Names Libby Doggett as Chairman of the Board; Sharon Price John Appointed to the First Book Board; Andrew Roberts Joins First Book Advisory Council

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Pictured from left to right: Sharon Price John, Libby Doggett, Andrew Roberts . Washington, D.C. – July 14, 2025 – First Book, the national nonprofit dedicated to furthering educational opportunity for children in low-income communities, named early childhood education leader Libby Doggett as chairman of the Board of D...

Tata Sons North America and First Book Distribute 35,000+ books to New Jersey Communities

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Bolstering classrooms with high-quality books, supporting local educators, and employee volunteerism on display at Jaguar Land Rover HQ MAHWAH, N.J. (June 6, 2025) — This week, Tata Sons North America and First Book will distribute more than 35,000 brand-new books to educators from New Jersey and surrounding areas. Nea...

SONIC Launches Sweet Topped Lemonades with the Help of Summer’s Favorite Authors

Posted in: Press Room

Available early in the SONIC App starting May 27 and at locations nationwide on June 2, every sip supports local schools and pairs perfectly with any summer read or adventure This summer, SONIC is bringing main character energy with a refreshing new lemonade lineup, teaming up with three of the most talked-about author...

Guru Krupa Foundation Continues Decade-Long Commitment to Equitable Access to Education through Partnership with First Book

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Multi-Pronged Approach to Social Impact Supports Educators and Uplifts NYC and Nassau County students in low-income communities New York City, N.Y. (February 20, 2025) – For more than 12 years, the Guru Krupa Foundation has been a vital partner in pursuing First Book’s mission of ensuring equal access to quality educat...

First Book Honored in New York Times Communities Fund Annual Holiday Giving Campaign

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Receiving this recognition for the fifth year, this campaign shares First Book and its efforts to remove barriers to education with The New York Times’ readers NEW YORK – First Book has been selected as a beneficiary of The New York Times Communities Fund holiday giving campaign to help support its critical work of imp...

Tata Sons North America and First Book Distribute 35,000 books to New Jersey and New York Communities

Posted in: Press Room

Bolstering classrooms with high-quality books, supporting local educators, and community volunteerism on display at Newark Museum of Art NEWARK, N.J., Sept. 19, 2024 – This weekend, Tata Sons North America and First Book are distributing more than 35,000 books to New Jersey and New York City educators. With 250 educato...

First Book Tees Up Second Annual Virtual Golf Tournament for Educational Equity

Posted in: Press Room

National nonprofit launches charity golf event with Topgolf and World Golf Tour to bolster educational resources in Title I Schools WASHINGTON, Aug. 1, 2024 -- In partnership with Topgolf and World Golf Tour (WGT), First Book is launching the second annual First Book Open virtual golf tournament. The interactive, onlin...

Kroger Foundation, Freestore Foodbank, and First Book Launch Literacy Grants for Summer Meal Sites to Support Academic Growth and Healthy Development

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Pilot program boosts summer reading alongside foodbanks in Ohio communities CINCINNATI, July 18, 2024 – First Book is thrilled to announce the launch of Cincinnati Summer Reading Pilot in collaboration with The Kroger Foundation and Freestore Foodbank. The pilot program is bolstering literacy at local foodbanks in the...