“Book Fairies” Featured in the Long Island Press
Whitmore Agency CEO James C. Metzger and Bruderman Asset Management Chairman Matthew J. Bruderman have both been doing for many years. The latest nonprofit that the Long Island business leaders are lending a hand to is The Book Fairies, a Freeport-based organization founded by Amy Zaslansky in 2012 as a solution for teachers who were spending their own money to buy books for students without home libraries. Metzger and Bruderman are making a significant monetary donation to The Book Fairies as part of a three-year pledge. They recently presented the initial check to the organization. The mission of The Book Fairies is to collect reading materials for people in need throughout metropolitan New York. “Those reading materials foster literacy and academic success, provide a respite from personal struggles, and nurture a love of reading across age groups,” according to the organization. “For too long we had been existing as an almost all-volunteer operation, distributing almost 3 million books, without focusing on fundraising — and that formula is not sustainable,” according to Eileen Minogue, executive director of The Book Fairies. “As an organization we decided two years ago to work towards sustainability and scaling,” she said, adding, “This donation from Jim and Matt enables us to to better fill the needs of those we serve by building on our infrastructure, hire additional support staff, and increase efficiency. We are so grateful for their investment in our mission, both financially and via their strategic ideas. Their desire to merge purpose with their daily business life if refreshing and inspiring.” The Book Fairies is “going to build out our monthly Community Book Fairs where we open our warehouse to educators who can take as many books as they need,” she said. It also has unique projects it started that she noted “will bring books directly into the communities, such as a pilot program with the Suffolk and Nassau County Police Departments and food distribution organizations.” Metzger and Bruderman recently spoke with us about why they decided to donate to The Book Fairies, why philanthropy is so important to them, and more. Why is your philanthropic work so important to you and what kind of organizations have you supported in the past? James Metzger: I have been very fortunate in my life and am in a position to give back. I’m very involved with athletics at my alma maters Half Hollow Hills High School and Hofstra University, as well as St. Anthony’s High School, which I’m closely aligned with. And then I often get involved with my clients’ communities. It’s a win-win-win. It helps my clients, the community and I think it strengthens The Whitmore Agency’s brand. To involve ourselves in that way helps create a positive image. It feels good to be involved with an organization like The Book Fairies. I think the money is going right where you want it to. I think they’re doing great work and I’m happy and “It’s extremely valuable and it’s changing young peoples’ lives,” says Jim Metzger.