News Release

NEA Launches New Program to Bring New Books to Public Schools in Need

NEA's Books Across America to Help Restock Gulf Coast School Libraries

WASHINGTON -- The National Education Association and its partners, The NEA Foundation, First Book, and The Heart of America Foundation®, today launched Books Across America—a nationwide initiative designed to provide new books to public school libraries and students in need.  Starting this month, NEA and its partners will travel to the Gulf Coast region on a weeklong Reading Relief Tour to deliver new books to more than 40 public school libraries in more than 26 cities impacted by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. The tour will kickoff February 27 in three cities: Houston, Texas; Mobile, Alabama; and Jackson, Mississippi. The tour will culminate in New Orleans with Read Across America Day on March 2, the birthday of beloved children’s author Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss).

“Books Across America addresses a critical issue:  Gulf Coast public school libraries are still in desperate need of new books and supplies, six months after the devastating hurricanes,” said NEA President Reg Weaver.  “Bringing books back to these schools and students who have lost so much is a top priority for NEA.  We are engaging our 2.7 million members and people nationwide to do everything they can to restock the shelves of public school libraries and classrooms in the Gulf Coast.”

During the Reading Relief Tour, a host of celebrities, athletes and notable public figures, as well as NEA members, will participate in reading events and help deliver new books and money to public school libraries and their students.  The tour, part of a yearlong effort to bring books to the Gulf Coast, will visit more than 26 cities, including:  Baton Rouge, LA; Beaumont, TX; Biloxi, MS; Chalmette, LA; Galveston, TX; Gulfport, MS; Lafayette, LA; and Lake Charles, LA. 

First Book is providing every child in each school visited with a new book, while The Heart of America Foundation® is donating new library books for all the schools involved in the Reading Relief Tour.  In addition, The Heart of America Foundation® will be pairing up NEA member schools in other parts of the country with Gulf Coast public schools to help provide them with new books.  NEA member schools will achieve this through organizing book drives and coordinating fundraisers throughout the year.

"NEA members dedicate their lives to inspiring children to become readers and lifelong learners.  Over the last several months, First Book has seen firsthand the impact of providing millions of new books to children whose lives were so disrupted by the hurricanes," said Kyle Zimmer, president of First Book.  "We are a proud partner of Books Across America and are committed to continuing to provide millions more books to the schools, libraries and to children who need our help the most."

Books Across America’s efforts to restock Gulf Coast public school libraries will continue beyond the Reading Relief Tour.  Nearly 45 million individuals nationwide are expected to join the program this year by donating money and new books, fundraising, organizing book drives and volunteering their time to deliver books. 

Books Across America’s partners are offering a number of ways individuals can help out, including the following: 
• The NEA Foundation is collecting monetary contributions to provide directly to public schools so they can replenish their materials.
• Through First Book, individuals can buy specific books for children to read at home. First Book is also offering several opportunities for volunteers to help get even more books into the hands of children.
• The Heart of America Foundation® is spearheading book drives to get books to public school libraries and classrooms.  They are also providing information to volunteers on how to organize their own drives.

“The Heart of America Foundation® is delighted to join NEA’s Books Across America project to help rebuild school, classroom and home libraries in the Gulf Coast area affected by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma,” said Angie Halamandaris, president of The Heart of America Foundation®.  “The program offers help to students and schools affected by the hurricanes, and provides opportunities for educators, students, parents and others to give aid where it’s needed most—to the hurricanes’ youngest victims.”  

Gulf Coast public school libraries suffered tremendous devastation and destruction.  Nearly six months following the hurricanes, many library shelves still remain empty.  Statistics from the American Library Association are startling:

• In Louisiana more than 150 school libraries were damaged and/or destroyed.  New Orleans Parish alone lost 63 percent of its 126 schools. 
• Mississippi lost 43 school libraries.  Mississippi’s Department of Education estimates it will cost more than $32 million to replace libraries and media centers.  It will take approximately $6.1 million to replace media materials including periodicals, trade books and supplies. 
• Texas library facilities from Beaumont to Orange to Silsbee took a beating.  
• Alabama lost not only about 14,000 valuable books, but the historic Mose Hudson Tapia Public Library in Bayou La Batre.  The 73-year-old log building took on about six feet of water.  Black mold took over once the water receded.

Books Across America is NEA’s second action aimed at providing hurricane relief.  In September 2005, immediately following Hurricane Katrina, the Association set up a Hurricane Relief Fund for students, teachers and school employees affected by the hurricane.  In addition, NEA provided $500,000 in direct aid, set up a toll-free helpline for Gulf Coast school employees and created the NEA Adopt a School Program to match donors with schools and classrooms in need of assistance. 

For more information about NEA’s Books Across America, visit www.nea.org/booksacross .

About The NEA Foundation
The NEA Foundation inspires public education employees to ensure that all students succeed.  Created in 1969 by the National Education Association, The NEA Foundation gives grants and awards to public school teachers, education support professionals and/or faculty and staff in institutions of higher education with the goal of improving public education.  Every year, each of the 2.7 million members of NEA contributes $1 in addition to their dues to support the foundation’s activities.  In addition to member contributions, the foundation is supported by generous gifts from corporations, philanthropic organizations and individuals.  To learn more about The NEA Foundation and its contributions to public education, visit www.neafoundation.org .

About First Book
First Book is a national nonprofit organization that gives children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books.  In neighborhoods across the country, First Book Advisory Boards unite leaders from all sectors of the community to identify the most effective community-based literacy programs reaching children living at or below the poverty line and provide them with First Book grants of free books and educational materials. The First Book National Book Bank, a subsidiary program of First Book, is the first centralized system that enables publishers to donate books and educational materials online to reach millions of children who need them the most. First Book has distributed more than 40 million new books to children in need in hundreds of communities nationwide. To learn more about First Book, please visit www.firstbook.org .

About The Heart of America Foundation®
Books From The Heart® is a national program of The Heart of America Foundation®, a nonprofit organization located in Washington, D.C.  The Heart of America’s mission is to teach the values at the heart of America, and to help people, particularly children, learn that they help themselves when they help others. The goal of Books From The Heart® is to give children everywhere the tools they need to read, succeed and make the world a better place.  More information is available online at www.heartofamerica.org .

Feb. 21, 2006

For More Information, Contact:

Staci Maiers , NEA Public Relations, (202) 822-7150

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The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing 2.7 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers.