A Jacksonville-based literacy nonprofit created in 2011 in a Duval County Public Schools classroom recently distributed its 1 millionth free book.
READ USA's milestone occurred at the sixth annual Historic Eastside Back-to-School Event at Matthew W. Gilbert Middle School.
"It makes my heart so happy," founder and board chairwoman Ellen Wiss said. "Like the best book ever, it has an everlasting impact. Hope is happening right here and so many community members have been a part of this amazing story. I’m smiling with gratitude."
President and CEO Robert Kelly said, "Each book is an opportunity for a child to discover the joy of reading, strengthen their literacy skills and build confidence in their future. This achievement belongs to every teacher,
volunteer, donor, community partner and family who has helped make that opportunity possible."
READ USA was born when Wiss volunteered in teacher Vanessa Tussey's classroom at George Washington Carver Elementary School. "Students who had struggled were becoming curious, engaged learners," Wiss said. Tussey told her to help more students required "books of interest … to inspire them to read, books they can choose and own."
The friends organized that school's first free book fair and Wiss created READ USA, which has since expanded into every Duval County public elementary school and across Northeast Florida, offering books, literacy tutoring and workforce development.
READ USA, with a Beaches Community Fund grant, recently provided 1,500 free books for longtime partner Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry's back-to-school outreach.
The partnership "put books into the hands of thousands of local students, giving children not only the joy of owning a new book but also the opportunity to discover a lifelong love of reading," BEAM CEO Jeff Winkler said.
For more information, go to readusainc.com.
Beth Reese Cravey has been a reporter for The Florida Times-Union for 45 years, currently specializing in nonprofits and health. She can be reached at bcravey@jacksonville.com.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville literacy nonprofit hits 1 million book milestone
