Children will receive free books courtesy of First Book and Xplorers football

June 9, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Memphis Xplorers News Release


SOUTHAVEN, Miss.—When a five-year-old student from a low-income household takes home her very first book in a few weeks—perhaps the only one in her home—it may be one donated by Xplorers fans this weekend.

The Memphis Xplorers arena football team will spotlight the non-profit organization "First Book" during this Saturday's 7 p.m. game against the Bakersfield Blitz. Fans will get $2 off any seat if they bring in a new book.

In addition, First Book is selling $10 tickets to the game, 50 percent of which will be given back to the organization. Fans may drop off the books at the DeSoto Civic Center's West Entrance on the night of the game.

The Xplorers are also cooperating with First Book on Friday, June 11, when Xplorers players will visit the Olive Branch Library at 2 p.m.

First Book provides books to underprivileged children who otherwise might never possess a book of their very own. The organization's mission is to provide the "first book" of many in a child's personal collection, with the hope of spurring them on to a great love of literacy and books.

"We give free books to children from low-income homes through an annual program," First Book co-chair Eileen Saunders said. "The books go home with the kids rather than staying with the organization, where they can only read them when they go to that place."

In addition to distributing many books through First Book events, the organization works with other entities, like daycares and schools, to give books once a month for one full year to each child in those programs.

The partnering groups are chosen through a grant process, and are required to teach the children how to read and encourage parents to participate.

"Some of the parents don't know how to read," Saunders said. "It's important that they support the child in their efforts, and at least look at the book with the child. For instance, in the case of an elementary school that receives one of our grants, the teacher may promote literacy by reading the book in class, doing a lesson related to the storyline and asking the children on the following day if they went home and read the book to their parent. Maybe they will send home a flyer with tips on how to help parents read to their child. The grant administrators can be as creative as they want in their efforts."

But they must do something, Saunders said, as their efforts to encourage literacy in families will determine whether or not they receive the grant the following year.

"I think you need to read to get through life," Saunders said. "There are many programs that just hand books to kids and walk away. The programs we work with are held accountable for teaching the kids to read in addition to supplying them with books."

First Book solicits book donations, but can usually secure twice as many books with money donations than with book drives.

"Books cost us just $2.50 from major publishers that support us," she said. "We can generally get a lot more books through those avenues than the average person would by buying it in a bookstore."

Any program serving low-income children can apply for a grant to get books through First Book. To apply, check out their website at www.firstbook.org, or contact Saunders at 662-890-3506. For more information about Xplorers games or work with non-profits and charities, call 662-342-1755.



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