First Book

First Book is a national, nonprofit social enterprise dedicated to ensuring educational equity as a path out of poverty. The organization addresses the barriers to education faced by children in low-income and historically excluded communities, providing brand-new books and resources to kids in need. The organization’s system-changing model, with a Network of more than 500,000 educators at its core, addresses the whole child, supporting their education, basic needs, and wellness – all of which are essential to educational equity. The organization’s purpose is to create systemic change; to ensure equal access to quality education; to empower every educator and all the children in need who they serve.

First Book has offices in Washington, D.C., and Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

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History[]

First Book President and CEO Kyle Zimmer founded First Book with Peter Gold and Elizabeth Arky in 1992 to be a market-driven solution to the severe lack of books in the schools and programs serving children from under-resourced neighborhoods. First Book has grown to serve more than 500,000 educators working in Title I or Title I-eligible programs.^[2] Gold and Arky continue to serve on the First Book Board of Directors.

The First Book Marketplace[]

The First Book Marketplace is First Book's eCommerce site that provides First Book’s network of educators, librarians, providers, and others serving children in need with thousands of free and affordable brand-new books, educational resources, and basic needs items. The First Book Marketplace is designed to address the barriers to education and attendance for kids in need from early childhood to age 18. It is available to educators and program leaders serving Title I or Title I-eligible schools and programs.^[2]

The First Book Network[]

The First Book Network refers to the 500,000+ educators who access resources on the First Book Marketplace. Anyone serving Title I or Title I-eligible schools and programs is eligible to join the network, including out-of-school programs, faith-based organizations, shelters, clinics, libraries, museums, military family support programs, and early childhood programs.

First Book Research & Insights[]

First Book Research & Insights is a highly-focused research capacity that aggregates and amplifies the voices of the First Book Network that is serving children in need. Fueled by corporate and non-profit partnerships, First Book conducts surveys, focus groups, and original research to better serve educators in Title I and Title I-eligible schools^[2], providing them with free, evidence-based resources.

First Book Accelerator[]

Turns current research and evidence-based strategies from leading experts into actionable tools that are shared with the First Book Network — so educators don’t have to wait months or years to use innovative best practices in their classrooms and programs.

Reviews and Awards[]

Kyle Zimmer has been honored as a DC Alpha Alumna Initiate of the Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women (2019), the Texas AFT’s Child Advocate Award (2019) and EY Entrepreneur of the Year® 2017 Award-Mid-Atlantic Region. Other awards include the Jefferson Award for Outstanding Public Service Benefitting the Disadvantaged (2016), Peggy Charren/Free to Be You and Me Award from the Ms. Foundation for Women (2016), the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading Pacesetter Honors (2016), the Library of Congress David M. Rubenstein Prize (2015), the National Book Foundation’s Literarian Award (2014) and the National Education Association Foundation’s Award for Outstanding Service to Public Education (2013), the Carle Honors Angel Award (2009) and the Authors Guild Award for Distinguished Service to the Literary Community (2005). From 2004 – 2008, Fast Company named Kyle one of 45 Social Entrepreneurs Who Are Changing the World. The organization has been reviewed favorably by Charity Navigator and the BBB Wise Giving Alliance as a trustworthy institution.,^[3][4]

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