I’m proud to serve on the Advisory Council for Porter-Leath’s Books from Birth program and this year, Books from Birth marks its 20th birthday. We are the Shelby County affiliate of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and now send age-appropriate books to over 35,000 children each month at no charge to families, making us the largest affiliate in Tennessee and second largest in the US.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary, the first $20,000 from new donors or increased support from existing friends will be matched by an anonymous donor!
Why Books from Birth?
Books from Birth is more than just books. It provides foundational literacy resources that have been shown to increase academic outcomes for participants who also have fewer behavioral cases in school. It also strengthens bonds between child and parents and other caregivers, forging lifelong learning relationships. Sustaining the last twenty years of momentum is critical as we enter our 21st year of providing books to Shelby County’s youngest children and preparing them for school success.
These books become each child’s personal library and sets them up through academic success as shown through external research:
Students who received more books from Books from Birth tended to have better academic and nonacademic outcomes
Elementary students who received the top and bottom 50% of books still had better iReady placement results and fewer behavior cases than non-BFB students
92% of parents of participating children shared that they are reading more with their child
93% of parents reported reading with their child at least 4 days per week, with 71% sharing that they read with their child 5+ days per week.
Though the program is at no cost to families, Porter-Leath must raise $25 per child per year to sustain current enrollment levels as the financial responsibility for the work rests with the local affiliate. Costs are up 18% over the last year due to sudden USPS rate increases, meaning that over $900,000 is needed to invest children with the literacy resources they need at the current enrollment level. Can you help us continue building a community of readers by making a gift today or with a monthly gift?
$25 gives a child age-appropriate books for the next year
$125 allows a child to participate for all five years of the program
$500 provides a classroom of twenty preschool students with books for the year
$2500 ensures that the same classroom has the full complement of 60 books over their preschool years
Porter-Leath's Preschool Program builds kindergarten readiness skills for children 0-5. Through the provision of a high quality education, family support, and health & nutritional services, Preschool prepares children for a lifetime of learning success.
Porter-Leath's Books from Birth creates literacy connections for families, which inspire nurturing bonds between caregivers and children. As a result, these bonds yield lasting, positive results that extend beyond early childhood.
Porter-Leath's Cornerstone Program parent educators equip mothers with prenatal and postnatal tools to promote positive development, giving their children the best start in life. As pregnant and parenting families reach their potential, they promote stronger families in their own communities.
Porter-Leath's Connections Program provides individualized residential, placement and counseling services to meet the needs of troubled children. Through individualized service plans, staff continually evaluate the child's personal development progress, coordinate placement with caring foster parents, and provide families with specialized training to share a safe, loving and permanent home.
Porter-Leath's Generations Program builds relationships between children, adults and seniors who make a positive difference in each other's lives - encouraging healthy, productive and responsible communities.
Porter-Leath's Teacher Excellence Program professionalizes the work of early childhood education by strengthening the knowledge and classroom practices of early childhood teachers.