A Freeport-based nonprofit dedicated to eradicating illiteracy had the Long Island Nets basketball team help celebrate the group donating its 3 millionth book on Oct. 22.
The Book Fairies made the donation during the Long Island Nets Basketball Academy youth clinic at the Town of North Hempstead’s Yes We Can Community Center in Westbury, where 35 participants each received two free books from the group, followed by the clinic led by the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) Sports Safety trained clinicians.
“It’s truly a testament to the support we’ve received from organizations like the Long Island Nets that we are able to reach the 3 millionth donated book just two years after celebrating our 2 millionth book giveaway,” said Eileen Minogue, executive director of The Book Fairies. “We are grateful to the local community, our dedicated volunteers, and all of our donors for making our mission achievable over the past 10 years.”
The 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 books to local high need schools, shelters, soup kitchens, correctional facilities, and even underdeveloped countries in Africa. Last year, it achieved the 2020 Guinness World Record title for the longest line of books, which it later donated.
“The Long Island Nets are proud to work with local community organizations who are invested in the success of Long Island’s youth,” said Alton Byrd, vice president of growth properties at BSE Global, parent company of the Long Island Nets, the National Basketball Association (NBA) G League affiliate of the Brooklyn Nets. “We want to congratulate The Book Fairies on reaching an extraordinary milestone. It is a pleasure to collaborate with organizations dedicated to positively impacting the lives of children.”
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