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Events/Announcements There are no upcoming public events at this time.
Past Events/Announcements
Daisy Troop Support - December 7, 2011
 
For the first time ever, MVOB has received support from the Daisies! We are excited to have another group join us in our goal of providing new books to those who need them. MVOB President Helen Van Auken was given outstanding new books at the Prince of Peace Daisy Troop holiday gathering. We greatly appreciate that they are working to help others and chose our charity.
Richardson YMCA and Local Family Hosts Party for Non-profits - December 3, 2011
 
In 2009, Dan and Meredith Fisherman wanted to begin instilling in their five year old Piper, and eventually in their newborn Annie, the importance of helping others. To do so, they hosted a kids holiday giving party where Richardson neighborhood kids were invited to come over to play, decorate cookies, have story time, and enjoy yummy hot chocolate. Rather than have a gift exchange, families were asked to bring a new book for local non-profit My Very Own Book and a pair of pajamas for The Pajama Program.
Two years later, with Piper having made more friends at school and Annie now with her own friends, the event has outgrown the Fisherman home. With not a moment’s hesitation, the Richardson YMCA stepped forward and donated the use of a wonderfully large space for the party. The larger venue was perfect for the approximately 80 people who attended, allowing for multiple arts and crafts stations, goodie tables, story time, and plenty of room to visit and play!
At the party, 71 new books and 65 new pairs of pajamas were donated by guests. My Very Own Book will give these books to students in low-income neighborhoods in Richardson, Dallas, and Plano as rewards for reading outside of school hours. The Pajama Program gives PJs to kids in need. Many of the children are waiting to be adopted, living in orphanages, group homes, and shelters. In addition to learning about giving back when they put the books and pajamas in collection bins, the President of My Very Own Book also spoke to the group of kids about feeling proud of helping other kids and showed a video of kids in the reading program receiving new books.
Barnes and Noble Creekwalk Village Halloween Event and Book Fair Benefiting MVOB - October 29, 2011 A big thanks to Barnes and Noble Creekwalk Village (15th St. & Central Expressway in Plano), the DFW Ghostbusters, and the approximately 100 kids and their families who showed up for the October 29th Halloween event and Book Fair to benefit My Very Own Book. We greatly appreciate the support and had a great time!
 
 
Students on Track to Earn More Than 11,000 New Books - October 19, 2011
In the past two years, we have given out more than 10,000 books total to students in Title 1 elementary schools who have earned them for reading outside of school hours. In part because of MVOB’s expansion from three to five and now seven schools, but mostly because more and more students in each school are participating, we expect students to earn more than 11,000 new books during this 2011-2012 school year.
During the past two weeks, students at the seven participating Title 1 schools completed their first of six periods in the MVOB reading incentive program and earned more than 1,800 new books of their choice. Students at Edward Titche, Elisha M. Pease and Maria Moreno in Dallas ISD, Audelia Creek and Spring Valley in Richardson ISD, and Barron and Mendenhall in Plano ISD received a Bronze, Silver, or Gold certificate based on the number of minutes they read. All participating students, regardless of the level of certificate, also received a coupon for a new, free book of their choice from the school’s “free bookstore.” We provides each school with many extra books to provide the students with a great selection. The free bookstore even has most of the popular titles and authors found in any bookstore and requested by students.
“We are happy our two new schools, Titche and Barron, have welcomed us with open arms and we look forward to watching the program become a part of their students’ lives, as it has at our other five schools,” says MVOB President Helen Van Auken. From year to year, MVOB has watched more and more students participate, and those students read more throughout the year. Students in the three pilot schools earned 1,275 more books their second year in the program. Similarly, during this first of six periods, the five schools from last year have earned 420 more books than they did during the first period last school year. “We see this as evidence that students are being motivated to read for entertainment and on their way to becoming lifelong readers,” states Van Auken.
MVOB 1st Annual Touch-A-Truck Event - October 1, 2011
On October 1st, families came to Valley View Center Mall from all over the metroplex to Touch-A-Truck. The event raised money for books for students in the My Very Own Book (MVOB) reading incentive program, run in Title 1 elementary schools in Dallas, Plano, and Richardson ISD. More than 600 adults and children gathered to sit in, climb on, honk the horn, and learn about 32 vehicles from the people who operate them, such as fire men, police officers, EMTs, city and school bus drivers, truckers, limo drivers, and race car drivers. Children were also able to visit with Front Row Joe of Cinemark in the morning and Deuce of Frisco RoughRiders in the afternoon. Keeping with My Very Own Book’s mission to promote reading and make book ownership a possibility for all, children also played one of two book walk games every fifteen minutes to win a new, free book of their choice.
The Board members of MVOB wish to thank the outstanding owners/drivers of the 32 vehicles for dedicating their entire Saturday to support this cause. MVOB also thanks the 103 hard-working volunteers, especially the many NHS high school students, without whom the event could not have happened.
Thanks to our outstanding photographer, Dennis Pitts. To see all event photos, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/68191599@N07/sets/72157627679906475/.
  
   
  
  
 
MVOB New Books Moved into Office Storage - June 25, 2011
For the past two years we have been storing our new books in our homes. About to exceed our capacity, a Plano company stepped forward, showing true dedication to giving back. Jager Solutions (http://jagersolutions.com), is donating a large, climate controlled room for us to store our new books and for volunteers to meet to pack up books to go to schools. After 18 outstanding volunteers met for three nights to pack the books into 150 boxes, 29 fabulous volunteers moved & shelved all the books on June 25th. We are very happy with this new location!
 
  
  
Plano Philanthropist Hosts Event for MVOB - June 11, 2011 While Christina Ryan has built an impressive interior design business, many in North Texas know her just as well for her generous role as a philanthropist. Numerous charities count her as a close friend and supporter. Passionate about helping causes related to children, she has been a supporter of ours since our formation in 2009, and this past Saturday she hosted a fundraising event in her beautiful Willow Bend home.
MVOB greatly appreciates the support of Christina and all of her friends. Their generous contributions come at an excellent time, as we expand from serving 2,500 to 4,000 students in low-income neighborhoods.
“Throughout the evening I spoke to one person after the other who is passionate about helping provide books to children who often can’t afford to buy their own books,” said President Van Auken. “It was refreshing to be at an event with so many who recognize the importance of reading, to our North Texas community.”
 
From Left to Right: Fran Heusinkveld, Host Christina Ryan, Carol and Joe Lane; Christina, Craig and Jim Walther
 
Guests mingling; Will and Mary Lou Smith with Christina
My Very Own Book Second Annual Dinner - May 14, 2011 The North Texas Community once again showed their support for My Very Own Book Reading Incentive Program by gathering at the Eisemann Center on May 14, 2011 for a banquet and silent auction to celebrate and honor the top readers in each school served during the 2010-11 school year. MVOB benefits children in Richardson, Plano and Dallas ISD’s by providing new books as rewards for reading. These star readers, Kapryse Burgess from Elisha M. Pease, Juanita Benitez from Audelia Creek, Lauren Calhoun from Spring Valley, Azalie Campos from Maria Moreno and Giselle Ventura from Mendenhall received a selection of books tailored to their likes, including a personalized, signed book from the keynote speaker, Tim Tingle.
Mr. Tingle is an award winning author, Choctaw storyteller and internationally known speaker, who counts spreading the word about the importance of reading among his most passionate causes. During the program, President Helen Van Auken stated, “Teachers are doing their part, but the ease and quickness of reading can only come when we give children the tools to extend learning from the classroom into the home.” She also announced that My Very Own Book will be expanding services to an additional 1400 students in Dallas and Plano ISD’s next year.
A special thanks to our photographer Dennis Pitts. More photos can be seen at http://www.MyVeryOwnBook2ndAnnualDinner.shutterfly.com. (Note: If clicking the link takes you to the generic Shutterfly website, copy this website address and paste it into your address bar.
(If the link does not work or takes you to the main Shutterfly page, please copy and paste this link into your browser to access the pictures.)
  
Honored students Juanita Benitez, Kapryse Burgess, Giselle Ventura, Lauren Calhoun; Juanita with her mother and keynote speaker Tim Tingle; Giselle with her mother and Tingle  
Kapryse with her father, mother, brother and Tingle; Lauren with her mother, principal, and MVOB school site coordinator   
Keynote Speaker Tim Tingle; Presenting Thank You plaque to Gold Sponsor Borders; to Gold Sponsor Cinemark USA  
Presenting Thank You plaque to Gold Sponsor PaperBackSwap; to Gold Sponsor Ashley and Jack Ternan  
Guests mingling, bidding on silent auction items; Guests Prissy Wisnewski, Barb Walters, and Michael Alves cheering for honored students   
MVOB Founding Board Member Dot Pitts and Audelia Creek Site coordinator Ganges Karundethu; Guests Michael Alves, Alison Smith, Lynn Tanksley and James Wild; Silver Sponsor Christina Ryan and Alex Kirkpatrick  
Second Annual Dinner volunteers; 2010-2011 MVOB Board
PaperBackSwap Donates Almost 6,000 New Books to MVOB - December 2010
MVOB was honored to have our five schools chosen to be a part of the PaperBackSwap 2010 School Book Donation Program. The program was started to provide books for students because of the company’s belief in both the power of reading and the power of giving. The schools selected to participate in the Books for Schools Program are based on needs of the students. PBS club members who wanted to support the program selected a school and donated their extra credits to purchase books for the students. For each credit donated by a member of PBS, PaperBackSwap and supporting organizations provided books for the school.
“We are very pleased with our club members' amazingly generous and quick response to this program - they obviously feel strongly about the education of children in America. Access to books is crucial to foster a child's love of reading, so the books our members have donated will have a big impact on these kids' lives. We hope to be able to continue this program and help more needy schools all over the country,” said Richard Pickering, Founder of PaperBackSwap.com.
The quantity of almost 6,000 books, valued at more than $24,000, is our largest one-time donation. To show our appreciation, the pictures below were sent to PaperBackSwap.
 
 
Children Helping Children - November and December 2010
The children, families, and schools featured and pictured here are excellent examples of people who care about helping others and have the drive to make change happen. In addition, the adults involved are dedicated to teaching children by example about the importance of giving back. We greatly appreciate all of their new book donations!  For the second year in a row Kerr Elementary in Allen ISD supported My Very Own Book. At the beginning of November the school donated Scholastic points to buy our non-profit wonderful new books, but they didn’t stop there! The school conducted a Scholastic One For Books drive in which students donated their spare change to buy us more new books! Wow! When I went to pick out new books, I was so touched by the stories I heard about children bringing in whole mason jars full of change to donate to help other little kids. We want to especially thank Book Fair Chairperson Joann Hicks, PTA President Donna Neal, Principal Ardath Streitmatter and Assistant Principal Melanie Covington (pictured above).  This is also the second year in a row The Spanish Schoolhouse in North Dallas has supported My Very Own Book by donating Scholastic points to MVOB in order to purchase new books for us. Among the books is a set of Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. The kids will be absolutely thrilled! Thank you to Administrator Monica Plata and to parent Christina Jacques for organizing the donation. We really enjoyed speaking to the kindergarten class (pictured above) about where the books will be going and the importance of helping other kids.  We are honored that all of the schools featured here have supported us since our inception. Carroll Elementary in Frisco ISD supported us again by also conducting a Scholastic One For Books drive in their school this year. When President Helen Van Auken received the books from librarian Jamie Hitchcock (pictured above), she was so pleased to find titles that are so popular with our students, such as Magic Tree House. We also want to thank PTA member Amy King for coordinating the drive to support our charity.  While he was growing up, Alison's father's family had very limited resources. One of the few books in his home was about the British Navy. He spent hours looking through the book and remembers it fondly. He grew up to earn his PhD and ensured there were children's books in his home. Having grown up with books, Alison also made books in the home a priority. She says her son has more books than she can count and Jackson loves being read to every night. After a visit from MVOB to an organization Alison belongs to, the fact that that there are some children who don't have a book to read at night really hit home. She decided to ask friends to bring a new book for MVOB to Jackson's 2nd birthday party instead of presents. We are touched by Alison's story and grateful for the family's support.  We are so pleased to have the support of Piper, Annie, and their family's holiday giving party for a second year in a row! Just like last year, only with Annie now old enough to join in the festivities, this family hosted a holiday party. Rather than have a gift exchange for the children, they asked families to bring a new book for our non-profit and pajamas for a non-profit which serves foster children. The kids at the party enjoyed having fun in their PJs, decorating cookies, and having MVOB President read a story to them. They also were able to learn once again about the importance of helping other kids. We not only thank this family and those who attended for their generous book donations, but also for raising children with an understanding of giving back!
MVOB Booth at N. TX Kids Expo - October 30, 2010 Our booth at the expo was a big success. We raised just $9 less than we needed to cover our booth cost, gave out approximately 250 flyers, and had 59 people sign up to receive our e-mails. It was a great day for our organization!  
 
2010-2011 School Year First Six Weeks Awards Assemblies - October 2010 Elementary students throughout North Texas are choosing to turn off video games, computers, and televisions after school. Their entertainment of choice: reading!
At the beginning of this school year, students in five Title 1 elementary schools began participating in My Very Own Book’s (MVOB’s) reading incentive program. Students at Elisha M. Pease and Maria Moreno in Dallas ISD, Audelia Creek and Spring Valley in Richardson ISD, and Mendenhall in Plano ISD are reading outside of school hours and are being rewarded for doing so every six weeks.
After the first six weeks of school concludes, the five schools hold awards assemblies in which students are presented with Bronze, Silver, and Gold certificates based on the number of minutes they read. All students, regardless of the level of certificate, also receive a coupon for a new, free book of their choice from the school’s “free bookstore.” MVOB provides each school with double the number of new books they need to provide the students with a great selection. In just the first six weeks of school the students have already earned more than 1,000 new books.
Spring Valley Instructional Facilitator Randi Barton runs the program within the school for MVOB. She states, “I am amazed at how excited the whole building is about MVOB! Students ask when they need to bring the new books back and their faces light up when they realize they can keep them forever.”
My Very Own Book has been honored to have the support of so many individuals, corporations, and foundations. The community has really embraced this program and their generosity has allowed the non-profit to expand from three to five schools. MVOB wants to especially thank Borders Bookstores on Preston in Plano, on Greenville in Dallas, and on Bethany in Allen for hosting book drives which resulted in more than 6,000 new books being donated.
 
 
Students at Maria Moreno and Spring Valley (two schools new to our program) with their books of choice
MVOB Cook for Books Event - September 25, 2010 You know a group of supporters are dedicated to a cause when they get up early on a Saturday to be at a fundraiser at 9:00 a.m.!
On Saturday, September 25th supporters of My Very Own Book (MVOB), a non-profit which runs reading programs in elementary schools in low-income neighborhoods, did just that. In addition to raising money for new books for students, another incentive for the supporters to come was the event itself at The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Dallas.
At the MVOB Cook for Books event, supporters were able to play “chef contestant” or “culinary judge” for a day. “Chefs” were divided into two teams and taught by culinary school instructors how to cook an elaborate meal, from salad to dessert, for a large group of people. Their food was then judged by two special guest judges, Chef Mo Assi and Chef Asdren Azemi, as well as “judge” attendees. It was a rare treat to have their food critiqued by star chefs such as Chef Assi, Executive Sous Chef of Lawry’s The Prime Rib, and Chef Azemi, owner and Executive Chef of Ruffino’s Restaurant.
All guests at the event were able to enjoy the food during the Cook for Books luncheon. Four guests also won exciting door prizes, such as a Le Creuset risotto pot, and the winning “Red Team” was awarded aprons embroidered with the MVOB logo. Both teams’ food was excellent, as evident by their high scores and the championship being determined by only two points.
MVOB wishes to thank The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Dallas, particularly instructors Chef Pound and Chef Konowalow, and the outstanding student volunteers; our special guest judges Chef Assi and Chef Azemi; top Sponsors, Chef Works and Le Creuset; and food donors Ben E. Keith, Crystal Creek Cattle Co., European Imports Ltd., FreshPoint, and The Lemmons Company.
Cooking
Cook for Books Luncheon: Special guest judges Chef Azemi & Chef Assi; "Judge" attendees
Winning door prize; Winning cooking team in souvenir prize aprons  
More than 2,700 Books Go to Participating Schools - September 2010 Nine volunteers/Board members gathered on September 19th to pull more than 2,700 books to go to the five participating schools for the first book selection day. MVOB provides each school with more than double the quantity they will need for each grade level to provide a true selection in the school's "free bookstore." With more than 9,000 books in MVOB storage to choose from, the volunteers were able to pull a variety of books from popular series, authors, and genres. THANKS to Brenda, Dinah, Donna, Dot, Helen, Jason, Kelley, Meredith, and Scott for your help!! Having such outstanding volunteers is critical!!  
  
Top Readers Recognized with Medals - May/June 2010 The student from each class who had read the most minutes during the school year was honored at their school awards assembly with a Star Reader medal provided by My Very Own Book.  
MVOB 1st Annual Dinner: Giving to Change Lives - May 1, 2010 An enthusiastic crowd gathered on the evening of May 1st at the Eisemann Center to raise funds to expand the My Very Own Book reading incentive program to more schools and to honor the program’s star readers. At the event Angela Macias from Audelia Creek Elementary, Jaylor Crawford from Elisha M. Pease Elementary and Preston Fink from Mendenhall Elementary were honored for being the top readers from their schools. They were each presented with six new books tailored to their likes, had time to speak individually with the evening’s keynote speaker, Everson Walls, and received a personalized, signed copy of Walls’ book. Guests enjoyed a sit down dinner and unique silent auction, but certainly a highlight of the event was the address by former Dallas Cowboys player and Super Bowl Champion Everson Walls. He stressed how important it is for children to choose books in the genre they love in order to develop lifelong readers, a key component of the MVOB program. For Walls, it was John Grisham's "The Firm" that started him reading for pleasure and he hasn't stopped since. MVOB was honored by the outpouring of support from the community and took time during their program to recognize Gold level sponsors Borders Bookstores, Cinemark USA and Ryan Design International. The support of all donors for this event will help MVOB continue to motivate children to read and make book ownership a possibility for all children. President Helen Van Auken stated, “We have many schools who have requested we bring our program to them and this event will allow us to begin our expansion.” To see more event photos taken by Mark Hatcher, click here.  
Honored star readers Preston Fink (Mendenhall), Angela Macias (Audelia Creek) & Jaylor Crawford (Pease) with keynote speaker Everson Walls, receiving presents from MVOB Pres.  
Keynote speaker Everson Walls; Betty White winning $200 spa gift certificate in Thank You for Spreading the Word drawing  
Representatives from Gold sponsors Borders Bookstores, Cinemark USA, and Ryan Design International receiving thank you plaques  
 
 
MVOB Reception and Art Silent Auction - December 12, 2009 A great crowd of art enthusiasts, artists, and MVOB supporters gathered on December 12th for a reception and art silent auction. Guests enjoyed food donated by Market Street Catering, a free door prize drawing for a $75 gift certificate from Tom Battles Custom Framing, a live demonstration of Scott Wade's "dirty car art," and a silent auction with 46 pieces of outstanding artwork!  
  
  
 
Scott Wade creating "dirty car art" Raffle winner Danna Gann and Scott Wade beside Danna's car
Children Giving Back - November/December, 2009 and January 2010 Children throughout North Texas are learning the importance of giving back. In November of 2009 Morgan and her family asked friends to bring new books to her birthday party rather than presents. They collected and donated 30 outstanding new books. When she delivered them to us it was clear she was proud of what she had done and understood the books will go to kids who need them. In December of 2009 Piper and her family hosted a holiday pajama party. Rather than having a gift exchange for the kids, they decided to use this event as an opportunity to help others. Piper chose to ask parents to bring a new book for MVOB and pajamas for another program which serves foster children. 76 beautiful books were presented to President Helen Van Auken at the event. In December of 2009 the 1st, 3rd, and 5th grades at Brinker Elementary School adopted My Very Own Book. Parents were asked to bring new books to the winter parties on the last day of school before winter break. 212 outstanding new books were donated. In January of 2010 students at the Spanish Schoolhouse North Dallas Campus presented My Very Own Book with 51 new books. The school used a portion of the points earned during their Scholastic Book Fair to buy new books for our non-profit. The school felt this was a good opportunity to help others while also teaching their students the importance of giving back.  
 
My Very Own Book Receives Grant from Enterprise Holdings Foundation - November 10, 2009 My Very Own Book was honored to be awarded a grant from the Enterprise Holdings Foundation. Their support is critical to our work to increase literacy skills in elementary schools in low-income neighborhoods through our reading incentive program. A special thanks goes out to Enterprise employee Jason Hunt, pictured below, for sponsoring our grant application. A man with a deep love of reading and a father of two elementary school students, he clearly knows first hand the imporatance of having books in homes for children. We greatly appreciate that Jason and Enterprise have chosen to support us in our endeavors.  Jason Hunt, Kelley Van Auken, Helen Van Auken
Schools Hold First My Very Own Book Awards Ceremonies and Free Book Selections In October 2009 the elementary students of Elisha M. Pease (Dallas ISD), Mendenhall (Plano ISD) and Audelia Creek (Richardson ISD) completed their first six weeks participation in the My Very Own Book reading incentive program. Each school honored the participating students with certificates and a coupon to select a new, free book from their schools "free book store." MVOB provided more than double the number of books needed at each school to provide the students a variety to choose from.  Elisha M. Pease Elementary student
 Mendenhall Elementary student
 Audelia Creek Elementary students
President Helen Van Auken on panel at Dallas Bar Association symposium - October 14, 2009 My Very Own Book was honored to be invited to participate in the Reading Panel Discussion at the Dallas Bar Association and Dallas Bar Foundation Community Symposium for Justice in Education. Judge Marilea Lewis put together an outstanding symposium. The good turnout is a clear indication that the community shares our goal of creating equal opportunity in education. 
Fellow presenter Sarah Polley, organizer Judge Marilea Lewis, and President Helen Van Auken
President Helen Van Auken gives a presentation at American Association of University Women meeting - October 12, 2009 President Helen Van Auken gave a presentation to the American Association of University Women about how we got started, our current program, and our plans for the future. The group was very welcoming and clearly passionate about supporting our cause. They plan to do a new book drive for us in December. 
President Helen Van Auken showing some of the books distributed to children in our program Celebration of “National Make a Difference to Children” Month Draws a Crowd and Raises Money for Low-income Students A group of 75 people dedicated to improving literacy and putting new books into the homes of low-income students gathered on July 30th to celebrate National Make A Difference to Children month. The event put on by local 501(c)(3) non-profit My Very Own Book was at Angelika Film Center in Plano and included food, door prize drawings, and a viewing of the movie The Reading Room. My Very Own Book will make a difference to children in Dallas ISD, Richardson ISD, and Plano ISD by running reading incentive programs in elementary schools in low-income neighborhoods. Students will read outside of school hours and be rewarded with certificates and new, free books every grading period. Approximately 1,500 books will be distributed at each school. The crowd at this event and the generous donations are strong evidence that the public is aware of the importance of the goals of My Very Own Book: improving literacy, encouraging students to choose reading as a form of entertainment, putting new books into the homes of families who often can’t afford the luxury of purchasing their own new books, and creating lifelong readers. The non-profit was touched by the outpouring of support and looks forward to continuing to work in North Texas to meet these goals.
 
Crystal Hogan, Meredith Fisherman, and Paul Nichols Jeanne Rubin, Lisa Mashigian, Kameron Leweller, Chris Damian, Serena Damian, Robb Blanchette, and Bob Shimmin
  President Helen Van Auken My Very Own Book display, literature
 
Barb Walters and Executive Director Kelley Van Auken Jack G.B. Ternan, Jr. and Adrienne Carr
 
Guests enjoying food Elaine Sanders
 
Geegee Thorn, Genie Niles, and Richard Niles Theatre crowd Students on Track to Earn More Than 11,000 New Books
In the past two years, local non-profit My Very Own Book (MVOB) has given out more than 10,000 books total to students in Title 1 elementary schools who have earned them for reading outside of school hours. In part because of MVOB’s expansion from three to five and now seven schools, but mostly because more and more students in each school are participating, the non-profit expects students to earn more than 11,000 new books during this 2011-2012 school year.
During the past two weeks, students at the seven participating Title 1 schools completed their first of six periods in the MVOB reading incentive program and earned more than 1,800 new books of their choice. Students at Edward Titche, Elisha M. Pease and Maria Moreno in Dallas ISD, Audelia Creek and Spring Valley in Richardson ISD, and Barron and Mendenhall in Plano ISD received a Bronze, Silver, or Gold certificate based on the number of minutes they read. All participating students, regardless of the level of certificate, also received a coupon for a new, free book of their choice from the school’s “free bookstore.” MVOB provides each school with many extra books to provide the students with a great selection. The free bookstore even has most of the popular titles and authors found in any bookstore and requested by students.
“We are happy our two new schools, Titche and Barron, have welcomed us with open arms and we look forward to watching the program become a part of their students’ lives, as it has at our other five schools,” says MVOB President Helen Van Auken. From year to year, MVOB has watched more and more students participate, and those students read more throughout the year. Students in the three pilot schools earned 1,275 more books their second year in the program. Similarly, during this first of six periods, the five schools from last year have earned 420 more books than they did during the first period last school year. “We see this as evidence that students are being motivated to read for entertainment and on their way to becoming lifelong readers,” states Van Auken.
My Very Own Book has been honored to have the support of so many individuals, corporations, and foundations, critical to the ability to provide this amount of quality, new books. MVOB wants to especially thank Borders Bookstores, PaperBackSwap.com, RGK Foundation, and W.P. and Bulah Luse Foundation for last year’s donations.
For more information about My Very Own Book, go to http://www.myveryownbook.org.
Students on Track to Earn More Than 11,000 New Books
In the past two years, local non-profit My Very Own Book (MVOB) has given out more than 10,000 books total to students in Title 1 elementary schools who have earned them for reading outside of school hours. In part because of MVOB’s expansion from three to five and now seven schools, but mostly because more and more students in each school are participating, the non-profit expects students to earn more than 11,000 new books during this 2011-2012 school year.
During the past two weeks, students at the seven participating Title 1 schools completed their first of six periods in the MVOB reading incentive program and earned more than 1,800 new books of their choice. Students at Edward Titche, Elisha M. Pease and Maria Moreno in Dallas ISD, Audelia Creek and Spring Valley in Richardson ISD, and Barron and Mendenhall in Plano ISD received a Bronze, Silver, or Gold certificate based on the number of minutes they read. All participating students, regardless of the level of certificate, also received a coupon for a new, free book of their choice from the school’s “free bookstore.” MVOB provides each school with many extra books to provide the students with a great selection. The free bookstore even has most of the popular titles and authors found in any bookstore and requested by students.
“We are happy our two new schools, Titche and Barron, have welcomed us with open arms and we look forward to watching the program become a part of their students’ lives, as it has at our other five schools,” says MVOB President Helen Van Auken. From year to year, MVOB has watched more and more students participate, and those students read more throughout the year. Students in the three pilot schools earned 1,275 more books their second year in the program. Similarly, during this first of six periods, the five schools from last year have earned 420 more books than they did during the first period last school year. “We see this as evidence that students are being motivated to read for entertainment and on their way to becoming lifelong readers,” states Van Auken.
My Very Own Book has been honored to have the support of so many individuals, corporations, and foundations, critical to the ability to provide this amount of quality, new books. MVOB wants to especially thank Borders Bookstores, PaperBackSwap.com, RGK Foundation, and W.P. and Bulah Luse Foundation for last year’s donations.
For more information about My Very Own Book, go to http://www.myveryownbook.org.
A big thanks to Barnes and Noble Creekwalk Village (15th St. & Central Expressway in Plano), the DFW Ghostbusters, and the approximately 100 kids and their families who showed up for the October 29th Halloween event and Book Fair to benefit My Very Own Book. We greatly appreciate the support and had a great time!
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