B

Fall 2009

BookSpring completed its first fiscal year as a combined organization, and if you’ve ever been a part of any merger, you know it’s a lot of work! While we had some bumps along the way, the passion for children and the power of books kept us centered and focused.

Now that the merger is behind us, it’s time to celebrate our success and show our gratitude! Because of your continued passion and support, over 62,600 people were impacted by our programs and over 148,000 books were given to disadvantaged families in the greater Austin area. We are so grateful for our more than 600 community volunteers who help us on a daily basis. From distributing books to engaging with teen parents and reading aloud as a model, you were there. You also helped stuff Read-A-Thon packages, entered information in our database, raised money and helped with our community outreach. We want to publicly thank you for your passion, your dedication and your hard work.I am humbled every day by: •Ourdedicatedstaff,whocontinuouslygoaboveandbeyondforthesakeofourprogramstofosteraliteratesociety; •Ourpartners,wholiveandbreathethestruggleofthesechildrenwhoarejuststartingtheirlivesalreadybehindandyetarethecriticallinktotransformationandhope;and •Mycolleaguesontheboard,whochoosetogivetheirguidance,expertise,andtimeaboveandbeyondtheiralreadyover-committed schedules. So what’s in store for year two? Focus. We, like all other organizations, are concerned about the recession and its impact on our programming. We are fortunate enough to have a stellar staff who knows how to proactively manage budgets, expandingorcontractingprogramsasfundingsourcesallow.Wewillcontinuetoaggressivelypursueresourcestokeepourcoreprogrammingstrong,whileselectivelyexploringnewwaystocreatealiteracycontinuumforthechildrenandfamiliesweserve. We will engage with potential new partners and like-minded organizations and individuals to deepen the impact in our community and increase our organization’s awareness. We do all this because we believe that every child is entitled to a bright future — one that starts with reading. Why am I so passionate about BookSpring? Because I am living proof that the greatest, long-lasting gift parents can give to theirchildistheloveofreading.Learningtoreadandmyloveofbookshaveputmeontheroadtosuccess.(Thanks,Mom!) You, through your support of BookSpring, help open a doorway for thousands of children to move from poverty to prosperitythroughthepowerofbooks.Ican’tthankyouenoughforbeingapartofthesechildren’sjourney.

BookSpring passionately drives early literacy and instills children with a love of reading.

Message from Heather Burton, Board President

Board Of DirectorsHeather Burton, President

Heather Burton, President-Elect

Steve Kangas, Secretary-Treasurer

Nicole CovertRichard Fonte, Ph.D.Fred Hansen, M.D.Karen Hayward, Ph.D.Amanda HillJenny HoffMadison JechowMichelle Posas KoethKate KyleHumboldt Mandell, Jr., Ph.D.Stacey MillerSusan PattersonLauren PaverJulia RathgeberJudy ReinhartSharon SmithLanny van Allen, Ph.D.

Mission StatementBookSpring champions early literacy to empower children with a lifelong love of reading. We:• Support families with the tools they need to cultivate reading from birth on.• Serve as a pace setter and community catalyst to illustrate how reading can unleash all that every individual has the capacity to become.• Initiate collaboration with others to improve access to literacy opportunities.• And, most importantly, open the world to children through reading.

Affiliated with Reading Is Fundamental and

Reach out and Read

www.bookspring.org

P.O. Box 143147 • Austin, TX 78714

P 512.472.1791 • F 512.927.9366

Affiliated with Reading Is Fundamental and Reach out and Readinfo@bookspring.org

Literacy is a basic need. Donate today at

www.bookspring.org

Non-ProfitOrganizationUS Postage

PAIDAustin, Texas

Permit No. 1593