About Us
EMPOWERING CHILDREN THROUGH LITERACY BY
Increasing BookOwnership
OUR MISSION
OUR VISION
Who We Are
Supporting Literacy Leaders
Book Fairies began in 2012 with the goal of fostering the love of reading in children and has grown to be the largest book donation organization in the Tri-State area. We gather new and gently used books and place them into the hands of eager children living in under-resourced areas across Long Island, New York City, and internationally. Our model removes the financial and access barrier by directly supporting literacy programs and building school, classroom, and home libraries.
What We Do
Putting Literacy In Reach
Students from low-income families tend to live in communities with underperforming and underfunded school systems that lack the resources to stock school and classroom libraries. Book Fairies floods “book desert” neighborhoods with high-interest books necessary to increase literacy rates. We collaborate with community members to understand the types of books, quantities, subject matters, and the diversity of characters and authors needed to engage children. Our dedication to supporting literacy programs extends to developing nations worldwide through our Global Literacy Initiative partnerships.
Who We Serve
Book Fairies serves individuals in under-resourced communities on Long Island and the five boroughs of New York City that do not have equal access to books. We collaborate with and distribute our books to educators and nonprofit organizations such as Title 1 schools, homeless shelters, foster care agencies, pediatric offices, after-school programs, and soup kitchens. Any books that are not useful here are donated to our overseas partners who are building libraries in developing countries such as Zimbabwe, Kenya, Somalia and more.
How We Do It
Volunteers & Donors
Volunteers spend thousands of hours sorting through new and gently used books donated by community members, bookstores, publishers, and authors. Every book is checked for age and condition before it is sorted into general age categories. Our generous financial donors help Book Fairies fund community book fairs, book celebrations, and public bookshelves where teachers and students can select all of the books they need to support literacy development and the love of reading.
Partnering With The IDD Community
Book Fairies creates ongoing and meaningful volunteer work experience for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Day habilitation and pre-vocational programs assist with the transportation of books, sorting, and stocking public bookshelves, significantly impacting their community.
*Book Fairies does not, by policy or practice, discriminate against a person or group on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, gender identity and expression, marital or military status, or based on any individual’s status in any group or class protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
Meet Our Team
Book Fairies staff members and Board of Directors are committed to improving literacy rates in our local neighborhoods. We understand literacy shapes all aspects of our lives, and books have the power to lift at-risk children out of poverty. Together with literacy professionals, grassroots organizations, and community leaders, we build stronger communities through book ownership and increased access to necessary reading materials.
Our Staff
Eileen Minogue
Sherry McGrath
Patty Bertoline
Samantha Battaglia
Ramona Deegido
Olivia Martorano
Our Board
Amy Zaslansky
Steven Miller
Steven M. Kass, EA
Kelly McGarrity
George Brennan
Joanna Vorachek Austin
