Page 12 - BusinessWest/Healthcare News 2021 Giving Guide
P. 12

 LINK TO LIBRARIES
2 Wilbraham Road Hampden, MA 01106 (413) 654-7241 www.linktolibraries.org President and Chief Executive Officer: Laurie Flynn
YEAR ESTABLISHED
2008
MISSION STATEMENT
By increasing a child’s access to books at school and at home, Link to Libraries strives to inspire young readers and enhance the language and literacy skills of children of all ages.
UPCOMING EVENTS IN 2021
• JAN. 12: “Creative Conversations” with New York Times bestselling children’s book authors Grace Lin and Shannon Hale. Register at www.crowdcast.io/e/creative- conversations/registration.
• MAY 6: “Celebrate the Magic of Reading” virtual auction. Tickets available at linktolibrariesgala. eventbrite.com.
WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO
Link to Libraries is the largest distributor of books to underserved youth in Western Mass. and Northern Conn. Since our inception, we have donated more than 650,000 new books to school libraries and to the home libraries children in need, many of whom have never previously owned a book.
Link to Libraries was co-founded by Susan Jaye-Kaplan and Janet Crimmins in 2008 in response to devastatingly low literacy rates among elementary students in
the Greater Springfield area. Their mission was to get books into the hands and homes of underserved children and schools to better their chances at success in school and in life.
 RESPONDING TO COVID
With schools closed, the need to ensure that underserved children in our community had access to books in their homes became even more critical. Since our traditional means of getting books to children were no longer an option, we had to
find alternative ways to meet children where
they were. We were able to distribute thousands of books to children at designated meal pick-up sites at schools throughout the region. Partnering with the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts
on a “Feed the Body, Feed the Mind” campaign enabled us to donate thousands of additional books to children and families in need. We also brought stories directly into people’s homes and provided the opportunity for children to engage directly with the authors who wrote them through our summer Link Live Bedtime Stories initiative.
GIVING OPPORTUNITIES
Visit www.linktolibraries.org/donate for details on how you can help.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Link to Libraries couldn’t do this important work without the support of our volunteers, who range in age from 4 to 80 years. There are many ways
to help, from becoming a classroom reader to labeling and packaging books to event planning. Please visit our website if you would like to join the team.
 THE TEAM
Lynn Weiner Francie Cornwell
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Andrew Anderlonis, Chair Kim Mele, Vice Chair Kelly Dawson, Treasurer Matthew Bannister
Pat Pio Amy Anderlonis
George O’Brien
Gail Baquis
John Drost Roberta Hillenberg-Gang
Katie Allen Linda Van Beaver
Anjali Kumar Jennifer Stratton Sharon Swaby
  46 DECEMBER 2020 GIVING GUIDE
BusinessWest /HEALTHCARENEWS
Sponsored by:
Monson Savings Bank






























































   10   11   12   13   14