User:Kethra/Kids Need to Read Foundation: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia
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{{Possible article}}
{{underconstruction}}
{{Infobox Non-profit
| Non-profit_name = The Kids Need to Read Foundation
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*Debbie Brown - ''Chief Financial Officer, Co-Development Director''
*Sherrie Miller - ''Secretary''-->
| area_served = [[United States]]
| product =
| focus = [[Literacy|Literacy advocacy]]
| method = Book donations to under-funded schools, libraries, and librariesnonprofit institutions that give books directly to children.
| revenue =
| endowment =
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}}
'''The Kids Need to Read Foundation''' is aan [[Internal Revenue Code]] [[501(c)(3)]] [[tax exempt]] [[public charity]] that raises funds to purchase books which are donated to under-funded schools and libraries. The organization was founded by [[author]] [[PJ Haarsma]] and [[actor]] [[Nathan Fillion]] in August 2007.
==History==
While speaking at schools across the United States, Haarsma noticed how some school librarians were having trouble finding funds to purchase ''The Softwire'' books after a demand had been created by Haarsma's visit. Many of the librarians were struggling to fill their shelves with books. In June 2007, Haarsma and a friend, actor [[Nathan Fillion]], approached a group of Fillion's fans with the idea for a project that would work to purchase books for underfunded schools, as well as [[nonprofit]] institutions which gave books directly to children. The group took to the idea and focused their energies into getting the project off the ground. The Kids Need to Read project went public in August 2007.<ref name="Fillion interviews Haarsma">{{cite web
|first=Steven
|last=Horn |url=http://comics.ign.com/articles/813/813133p1.html
|title=Exclusive: Nathan Fillion Interviews PJ Haarsma
|publisher= IGN Entertainment
|accessdate=26 November 2008
|date= 2007-08-11
|pages=p. 2
}}</ref><ref name="big damn zine">{{cite journal
|last= Kemp
|first=Kym
|authorlink=
|year=2007
|month=10
|title=Fillion "Fills In" Empty Library Shelves with the Help of Friend and Author, PJ Haarsma
|journal=Big Damn Zine
|volume=
|issue=4
|pages= pp. 3, 5
|id=
|url=http://www.bigdamnzine.com/Big_Damn_Zine_Oct_Issue.pdf |accessdate=2008-11-27
|quote=
}}</ref>
In January 2008, the process to transform the project into a legal foundation began, and the fan group was separated from the developing organization. On May 22, 2008, The Kids Need to Read Foundation (KNTR)<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.kidsneedtoread.org/|title=Kids Need to Read - Giving Children's Books to Libraries in Need
|publisher=www.kidsneedtoread.org|accessdate=2009-01-30}}</ref> was incorporated in the state of [[California]]. KNTR became an Internal Revenue Code [[501(c)(3)]] [[tax exempt]] [[public charity]] on September 18, 2008, with a retroactive exemption date of May 22, 2008. The organization is supported by a global volunteer base.
==Goals==
* To purchase books by raising funds through auctions, sales of merchandise and other available means
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* To encourage reading among reluctant readers
==Endowments==
==Fundraising==
Funds were initially raised through [[ebay|eBay auctions]] of ''[[Firefly (TV series)|Firefly]]'' and ''[[Serenity (film)|Serenity]]'' autographed memorabilia, and ''The Softwire'' books and items, and other science fiction and [[literary]] themed items.<ref name="big damn zine">{{cite journal
|last= Kemp
|first=Kym
|authorlink=
|year=2007
|month=10
|title=Fillion "Fills In" Empty Library Shelves with the Help of Friend and Author, PJ Haarsma
|journal=Big Damn Zine
|volume=
|issue=4
|pages= pp. 3, 5
|id=
|url=http://www.bigdamnzine.com/Big_Damn_Zine_Oct_Issue.pdf |accessdate=2008-11-27
|quote=
}}</ref> [[Fundraising]] efforts have expanded to include support by various sci-fi businesses and organizations. KNTR representatives also attend [[convention (meeting)|conventions]], both [[Comic book convention|comic book]] and [[Science fiction convention|sci-fi]], to accept donations and to spread information about the organization.
Although the foundation separated from its fan beginnings, many [[science fiction]] fan organizations remain supportive. [[Browncoat]] groups (fans of Fillion's ill-fated television series ''Firefly'') are some of the largest supporters of The Kids Need to Read Foundation. Several of these groups have organized fundraisers that include [[Serenity_(comics)|''Serenity'' comic book]] sales, auctions, and [[Jayne Cobb|Jayne hat]] knit-a-thon pledge drives.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://community.kidsneedtoread.org/?p=713
|title=Austin Browncoats' Dragon*Con Knit-a-Thon Supports KNTR
|publisher= The Kids Need to Read Foundation
|accessdate=6 December 2008
|date=27 August 2008
}}</ref> Non-Browncoat groups participate in supporting the organization as well. The Dune Sea Garrison<ref>
{{cite web|url=http://www.az501st.com/|title=Dune Sea Garrison | 501st Legion | Arizona, USA|publisher=www.az501st.com|accessdate=2009-01-30}}</ref> of the [[501st Legion]] ([[Star Wars]] fan group) performed a [[USO]]-style show at the [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]] [[Comic Con|Cactus Comicon]] in January 2008 to raise funds to benefit KNTR. <!--[http://www.spazdogcomic.com (dead link--> SpazDog Comics and Quantum Mechanix<ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.quantummechanix.com/HOME.html
|title=HOME
|publisher=www.quantummechanix.com
|accessdate=2009-01-30}}
</ref> have donated the proceeds from several item sales to KNTR.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://community.kidsneedtoread.org/?p=212
|title=Fun in Phoenix
|publisher= The Kids Need to Read Foundation
|accessdate=6 December 2008
|date=13 February 2008
}}</ref>
All funds are then used to purchase books from the foundation's official book list, a list which is continually updated by a professional children's book buyer. The titles chosen are well-reviewed and many are recommended for children who are reluctant readers.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://community.kidsneedtoread.org/?page_id=146
|title=Kids Need to Read Foundation official book list
|publisher= Kids Need to Read Foundation
|accessdate=28 November 2008
|date=2008
}}</ref> KNTR has made book donations to thirty-nine schools and libraries in addition to three multiple library systems. KNTR facilitated a substantial donation of three thousand books by the Phoenix Book Company to the [[New Orleans Public Library|Friends of the New Orleans Public Library]], to help with recuperation after [[Hurricane Katrina]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://community.kidsneedtoread.org/?p=174
|title=Kids Need to Read Assists in Giving 3,000 Books to New Orleans
|publisher= The Kids Need to Read Foundation
|accessdate=6 December 2008
|date=1 February 2008
}}</ref> The Odessa Brown Children's Clinic in [[Seattle]] was the recipient of a donation amounting to four hundred forty books in February 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://community.kidsneedtoread.org/?p=478
|title=The Odessa Brown Children's Clinic Donation
|publisher= The Kids Need to Read Foundation
|accessdate=6 December 2008
|date=1 May 2008
}}</ref> This clinic, as well as the North Public Health Clinic in Seattle, have received recurring donations from KNTR.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kidsneedtoread.org/faq.html
|title=KNTR FAQ
|publisher= The Kids Need to Read Foundation
|accessdate=3 February 2009
|date=
}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist|1}}▼
==External Links==
[http://www.kidsneedtoread.org Kids Need to Read website]
▲{{reflist|1}}