A Long Island organization is fighting to raise awareness of illiteracy with a read-a-thon.
Freeport-based nonprofit The Book Fairies just launched its month-long, virtual “Once Upon a Read-a-Thon” fundraiser. The annual event will take place during the entire month of May with the goal of raising $100,000 for its mission of distributing books to underserved communities.
“The annual Read-a-Thon is a critical fundraiser for The Book Fairies,” said Eileen Minogue, executive director of the Book Fairies. “While we thrive on the millions of books donated to the organization for us to redistribute, we also need to support the logistics of getting books directly into the hands of children in need.”
The read-a-thon challenges participants to read for 30 minutes a day for 30 days, either in a group or individually. The month-long, virtual fundraiser will feature appearances and live readings on The Book Fairies’ social media channels with authors such as Gordon Korman, Jude Watson, Nancy Krulik, Nick Bruel, and Renee Flagler, among others.
“The added element for the ‘Once Upon a Read-a-Thon’ of participants challenging themselves to read themselves daily during the month provides enrichment for all,” Minogue said, “and we are thrilled for this year’s participants and sponsors’ help in making this event a success.”
The Book Fairies organization collects reading materials for people in need throughout the New York metro area with the goal of nurturing a love of reading across varying age groups. More than 1,500 individuals volunteer with The Book Fairies, helping to source, sort, and pack boxes of free reading materials for distribution to stock classrooms and build home libraries. Founded in 2012, The Book Fairies has redistributed and donated more than 2.7 million books to local high need schools, shelters, soup kitchens, correctional facilities, and even underdeveloped countries in Africa.
The fundraiser is a fun, family-friendly way to raise awareness and money for the important cause of illuminating illiteracy all over the world.
To sign up for the fundraiser and for more information, click here.
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