Books for Collier Kids (BCK), a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring every child in Collier County has books at home to read and cherish for life, recently recognized Collier County Public Schools and Superintendent Dr. Leslie Ricciardelli for their ongoing support of the charity’s mission.
During the informal ceremony held earlier this month, BCK Board Chair Sallie Williams presented the Collier County Public Schools’ Superintendent with a framed copy of the Cat in the Hat, commemorating their long-standing partnership with the nonprofit and sealed their mutual commitment to providing books for every Collier kid with Dr. Ricciardelli joining the charity’s Advisory Board.
“This framed book is a small token representing our deep appreciation for crucial role both the school system and superintendent have played in helping Books for Collier Kids distribute more than two million new books to students during the past twenty years; books that help children in our community not only succeed in school, but in life,” shared Williams.
Books for Collier Kids is an all-volunteer run 501c3 organization comprised of a Board Directors, Emerit, Honorary Emerit and an Advisory Board. The charity selects, purchases and distributes new, age-appropriate books for children throughout the county, addressing one of the most important factors affecting literacy: access to books.
Launched in 2005 as First Book-Collier County, BCK has distributed two (2) million new, high-quality, age-appropriate and personalized books to pre-K, kindergarten, first- and second-grade students to enhance their literacy development by partnering with more than 20 local organizations, including the Collier County Public Schools, Fostering Success, Fun Time Early Childhood Academy, Habitat for Humanity of Collier County, Guadalupe Center, Grace Place for Children & Families, Collier County Sheriff’s Office and Christ Child Society of Naples.
For more information, please call Sallie Williams, Board Chair at 239.394.4062. To learn more about Books for Collier Kids, visit www.BooksforCollierKids.org.