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Big Book Give raises tens of thousands for Title I classroom libraries; Jack and Jill presents $1,500 check
Summary
Organizers of The Big Book Give announced large community donations for Title I classroom libraries; separately, the Tallahassee chapter of Jack and Jill presented a $1,500 donation to the Leon County Schools foundation for Title I schools.
Organizers of The Big Book Give told the Leon County School Board on Dec. 10 that a community fundraising effort launched in October has generated large donations and hundreds of books for Title I classrooms.
Board member Miss Smith and organizer Kathleen Malloy described an initiative that solicited both donated books and monetary contributions so principals could purchase classroom-library books where needed. Organizers said initial matching and seed donations — including $10,000 from KPMG and in-kind matching by Midtown Reader — helped spur participation from banks, churches and community groups.
Virginia Glass, who leads a local chapter of 100 Women Who Care, said the local group contributed $27,000. At the meeting organizers also announced additional contributions that they said brought total donations and commitments to roughly $35,275 more; staff and volunteers estimated the effort could approach $50,000 once outstanding grants are processed.
Kathleen Malloy, introduced by the board as the district staff who knows “every book in our district,” was credited with coordinating distribution. Board members asked staff to report back next year with data on how many books were purchased and how classroom holdings changed compared with the baseline survey organizers cited.
Separately, Gabriel Brown, president of the Tallahassee chapter of Jack and Jill and a senior at Leon High School, presented a $1,500 check to the Leon County Schools Foundation earmarked for use in Title I schools. Leticia Brown, a member of the Tallahassee Jack and Jill chapter, introduced the presentation.
Why it matters: Organizers said a summer audit showed wide disparities in classroom-library inventories; the campaign aims to reduce inequities between Title I and non-Title I schools.
Next steps: District staff will coordinate distribution, track purchases, and report counts of books and dollars used to the board in future meetings.
