School Partnerships 

Starting in 2008 and extending now into 2009, Townsend Press has partnered with a select number of middle schools to encourage students to read more. Over 150 participating schools have been sent free copies of a paperback upon their agreement to: 1) read the first chapter of the paperback out loud to students to interest them in the story; 2) distribute the books to students to keep as their own. The schools also qualify to receive more free books for their students. Click here for details about this partnership.

 

First Book

Townsend Press maintains a continuing partnership with First Book, a leading children’s organization with a single mission: to give children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books. After an initial donation of 250,000 books from our Bluford Series, TP donated 750,000 paperbacks to First Book’s Book Relief effort on behalf of children and families affected by the hurricanes of 2005. More recently, TP donated books  to First Book in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education as part of a nationwide Back-to-School campaign in the Fall of 2007. Click here for a photo of U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings and Texas Commissioner of Education Robert Scott appearing at a school in Austin, Texas, to announce the donation of 520,000 books by Townsend Press to the 2007 Adolescent Readers Initiative. In August of 2008, TP donated 480,000 more paperbacks to First Book, which is sending the books to schools, libraries, and community groups serving low-income students across the country.

“First Book thanks Townsend Press for donations that as of September 2008 will total over two million paperbacks, including many titles in its Bluford Series. These books have or will be distributed to young people in need all across the United States.” –Vandna Wendy Bhagat, Senior Vice President of First Book.


Embracing the Child

Embracing the Child develops libraries for organizations providing emergency shelter to the homeless and for victims of domestic violence, emotionally disturbed teens, runaways and "throwaways." ETC also creates literature-rich environments, tutoring and literacy components for community development and after-school enrichment programs, juvenile detention/youth centers, and camps for disadvantaged and at-risk children and youth in settings beyond the traditional framework of public schools.

“In the five-year partnership that Townsend Press has had with Embracing the Child, you have provided and distributed for us at no charge hundreds of thousands of your wonderful paperbacks. We are very grateful and a better organization because of your gracious and most generous support.” – Pat Kindermann, President of Embracing the Child.


Reading (PA) Area Community College

For a number of years Townsend Press sponsored a nationwide reading scholarship contest. Cash scholarships were offered to students who read 10, 20, 0r 30 books in the course of a semester. That program has now been converted to contests at individual schools. TP makes the books and the cash scholarships available, and individual schools choose someone on campus to coordinate the scholarship. Below is an account from the coordinator of one such college-based program.

       "For the last two years, I have served as the coordinator of a reading scholarship program at Reading (Pennsylvania) Area Community College. With the approval of instructors, I have visited developmental reading and writing classes and invited students to participate in the program; I’ve also posted announcements around campus. Developmental students learn that if they read 10 books (all of which are provided at no charge by Townsend Press), they receive $100. If they read 20 books, they receive an added $100, and if they read 30 books in all, another $100—so they can earn $300 in all.

After students read a book, they visit me at designated hours that I am at a desk in the Learning Skills Center. We talk about the book a bit, and it’s very easy for me to quickly determine whether or not a student has read the book. I then record in a notebook his or her name and the book read and provide another book or two to read; a student then eventually returns to talk about these two books. And so on. The program has been very popular. Below are a few comments that participants have made."

• "These are the first books I have ever read, really."

•  "This program is GREAT!  I’ve learned so much.  My instructor thought that there was a catch because it sounded too good to be true (free books, get paid to read), but now I get to tell her that there was NO catch and for once, IT’S TRUE!"

• "Let me tell you how this contest has helped me; I now have straight A’s on my report card! Thank you so much!"

• "I never understood the value of reading until now.  I can’t believe how my grades have changed!"
 
• "I devoured this book (Ten Real Life Stories)!  These books are great!  I’ve never read so much before in my entire life!"
 
• "These are the first books I have ever read, really."

• "This book (Letters My Mother Never Read) made me think about the person walking next to me and that they might have a lot of things they are dealing with and that’s why they may have a bad attitude or a frown.  It has truly changed the way I look at people now."

Donald Bertram
TPDonaldWBertram@aol.com

Los Angeles Trade Technical College       

Here are some comments by a teacher, Mike Dean of Los Angeles Trade Technical College, on his experience in conducting a Townsend reading scholarship contest for his students over several semesters. (Mike is pictured in the photo at right.)

        “Just a little note to update you on our progress. I have been trying to motivate students to read more for 10 years, and nothing I have tried has ever had the impact that your contest has had. There is a reading buzz going around, and everywhere I look, students are reading your paperbacks instead of playing solitaire on the computer. It has created a tremendous buzz here at the college, and the students have grown so much academically in just a short time.  It was amazing to see  groups of bald-headed, tatooed gangster-type young men arguing  about characters and plotlines in the Bluford Series books.  

We have 95 students participating so far.  As per our conversation, I have a folder for each student participating, with a copy of your reading list stapled inside.  When they take a book, I log it out, and when it’s returned, I log it in and log out another book.  I also keep track of each book interview in the folder, so the students can track their progress in the contest. You were right about the oral interviews, by the way. The students will talk forever about the books if you let them.  But it is very obvious that they have finished the books. It’s going very smoothly.  I do interviews during my office hours and early in the morning.  Just a couple of my favorite anecdotes:

• One student finished reading The Gun, and asked if he could keep it a little longer.  His mother wanted to read it.

• Also, another student was gushing about how much she was actually enjoying reading so much.  She asked if she could keep a copy of Letters My Mother Never Read because her 13-year-old gangster brother was reading it….and he NEVER reads on his own, according to her.

. . . .  I’m attaching the stats for the books read by the Trade Tech students for the fall 2005 semester. The grand total was 704 books, which is about 700 more than would have been read without your contest.  (I’m being a
little sarcastic).  The winners were thrilled and beaming with pride as they received their awards at our ceremony.  And, as always, the students who didn’t quite finish the ten books were determined to push themselves just a little harder the next time they are offered such an opportunity, which I feel is a great residual benefit of the contest.

As you can see, the Bluford series was again very popular.  The non-fiction books, especially Reading Changed My Life and  It Couldn’t Happen To Me, really struck a chord with many of the students, as well as providing
confidence to the struggling readers, many of whom said these were the first two books they ever finished on their own.

I think you can tell that they have been forever changed by participating in your wonderful challenge.

Which brings me to the million-dollar question:  can our students participate in the spring contest?  They are looking forward to the new additions to the Bluford series, and some of the new titles on the list seem right up their alley as well.  We don’t start up until the last week in January, and it would be wonderful to be able to present them the opportunity right at the beginning of the semester.  The basketball coach is also interested in having his players participate this semester.

I would be happy to run the contest as before, or make any adjustments you deem appropriate. I know when you began the contest, you didn’t know if it was going to work out logistically, as no one had ever tried something like this before.  Speaking for myself, I think it has been an incredible success, and has brought the joy of reading to many college students who never would have acquired it otherwise.

. . . . The students have been highly motivated by your contest.  It’s wonderful when other faculty members comment on how often they see the students reading during every spare moment. We have 121 participants this semester, and the students are as motivated as ever by your ingenious contest.  Most of them have never read
regularly on their own.

I’m running the contest the same as before. Each student participant has a folder with all the books listed in it.  I check out the books and then keep track of all the completed interviews in the folder. To date, I think 4 of
the students have read more than 10 books.  One student is closing in on 20. I anticipate, based on the current progress, about 20 or so students should qualify for the scholarship money.

As usual, the Bluford series seems to be the most popular, along with Letters My Mother Never Read.  The most popular new book on the list seems to be It couldn’t Happen to Me, and not just because it’s one of the smaller
books.  I think the subject really hits home with a lot of the students. In the interviews I’m surprised to find out how many of the younger students already have children, and they can identify with the struggles of the girls profiled in the book.  Getting through college is tough enough without the added responsibility of raising a child.

. . . . I can honestly say I never get tired of book interviews with students.  To see the looks on the students’ faces as they try to explain why a character in a book made certain decisions, or having an ex-gangster admit that he cried while reading Brothers in Arms, or having students chase me down, begging to take some extra books home for the weekend, all are some of the most rewarding experiences of my teaching career.  We had over 150 students participate this semester, and each of them has been enriched from the experience, whether they have read one book or 20.

I just went through the folders recently, and it seems like we should have between 20 and 25 winners, with two or three passing the 20 book threshold. I was wondering if I e-mailed you the names of the winners on May 31st,  could we have the scholarship checks sent to me so I can distribute them at our awards ceremony?  It has become the highlight of each semester.

Here are three tips I’d like to add for teachers who might consider conducting the contest:

1. Don’t let a student slide if you feel they haven’t finished the book,
especially in the beginning.  They are probably testing you, and the word
will get around that the contest is legit.

2. It might sound like a lot of extra work to the teachers or coordinator, but
it really isn’t.  If I’m busy when a student comes for an interview, i just
give them another book or 2 and do two or three interviews at once at a
later time.

3. The contest is also a great way to teach or reinforce the basic elements of
literature.  In my interviews I ask the students about the protagonist and
antagonist (because in the Bluford series this changes from book to book
even with the same characters), the setting, plot, turning points, theme,
etc. This helps them tremendously when they get to English 101 and 102.

4. Finally, potential teachers at other schools should feel free to e-mail me if they have any questions about the contest: mdean30@hotmail.com

 

Other Organizations

The list below includes contact information (and a few letters) from some of the organizations that have received free books from Townsend Press.
 
The Arc of Philadelphia
The Philadelphia Developmental Disabilities Corp.
2350 W. Westmoreland Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19140
Andrea Porcelli, Program Specialist
215-229-4550 x139

Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center
8 Production Way
Avenel, NJ 07001
Mark Yaros

Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall
16350 Filbert Street
Sylmar, CA 91342
James McKeever, Program Director

Bayview Citizens for Social Justice, Inc.
21186 North Bayside Road
Cheriton, VA 23316
Ms. Alice Coles

Beacon Program at BOK Tech – 4 Programs
Bok Technical High School
1900 South 8th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19148
Loretta Crea
215- 952-6200 x2008

        With great pride and an opportunity to boast and give thanks, I would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ for the Bluford Series of books that our (700) campers used this summer in reading groups. These books are truly geared to the inner city child and the contents are readily understandable to them.
        In the literacy end of our camps this summer, we used this reading material in our academic enrichment for junior high and high school students. We read aloud in small groups because we find that the comprehension is greatly approved by using this method. As a result thereof, whenever a child had a problem with interpretation of any kind, it became an open discussion and at this time students were able to expound on that which they interpreted from the story line.
        We also did book reports, which proved to be an eye opener to the shortcomings that many of our students deal with regarding writing skills or the lack thereof. The students were very pleased and entertained by the books.
        On behalf of the Sunrise and Cseep non-profit organizations that run these after-school and summer programs, I wish to thank you for your wonderful contribution. Without your generous offerings we would have no library to call our own. Our library is growing because of Embracing the Child and our children use it more and more.
        Thank you again. We look forward to continuing our partnership in the school year to come.
        —Loretta V. Crea, CFO

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Montgomery County
540 DeKalb Street
Norristown, PA 19401
Ms. Jeannie Gustafson

Big Brothers Big Sisters SEPA
123 S. Broad Street Suite 2180
Philadelphia, PA 19109
Linda Pusatere
Director of Operations 215 790 9200 X 314

Bonanza Buying Center After-School Program
700 Lauderdale Street
Shelby, MS 38774
Casper Edwin Hall
662-398-4003

Bread and Life
75 Lewis Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11206
Larry Gile, Executive Director
Rita Trucios (contact) 718-514-0058 x10

Breathitt Regional Juvenile Detention Center
2725 Highway 30 West
Jackson , Ky. 41339
Meegan Deaton, Counselor
606-295-2350

        I just wanted to thank Embracing the Child for making it possible for our facility to receive the Bluford Book series. We have had an overwhelmingly positive response from our kids. They have been begging for copies of the series to take home with them when they leave. Our teachers are delighted and say they have never had kids give such a positive response to schoolwork—the kids look forward to doing the assignments that came in the teacher’s guide. Thank you so much.

Brooklawn Public School
301 Haakon Road
Brooklawn, NJ 08030
John Kellmayer
856- 456-4039

Bucks County Youth Center
1750 Easton Road
Doylestown, PA 18901
James Wells
215-340-8355

        I am writing to thank you for the generous donation of books received by the Bucks County Youth Center. This summer I organized and ran a three week reading series I called "Popcorn Reading". Each week we chose a book from your series to "popcorn read." (Shared reading out loud: no pressure to read orally but students needed to follow along in case someone popcorned to them. They could read one word, one paragraph or several pages.) During our reading session we discussed situations, made predictions, gave opinions etc. The detailed teachers manual was very helpful. At the end of the session students were asked to complete the book on their own.
        At the end of each week we met again for popcorn and treats while we played a comprehension game also reinforcing vocabulary and main idea. The winners of the game earned the privilege of choosing first from the variety of treats (their favorite was a 12oz. bottle of soda).
        Upon the completion of the three week series, I actually had five students ask me for the next book in the series. I was very glad to be able to present them with the books your organization made available to our youth center. Thank you for your generosity.
        —Linda C.

---

        An enormous, heartfelt thank you for donating and sharing your high interest, easy to read books!
        Your books have opened windows and doors to reading for our detention students. One young man introduced to Jack London’s White Fang, then devoured London’s novel, Call of the Wild and short story, To Build a Fire. Next he wrote a book report comparing and contrasting the two novels in the hope of encouraging others to unlock the reading treasure he had found in these exciting animal survival stories. He left the detention center requesting his girlfriend to find more London books for him to read.
        Another youth found Braum Stoker’s Dracula of good overcoming evil so compelling that he quickly consumed the 428-page book in three days. This was the first book he had ever read from cover to cover. It had whet his appetite to feast on other classics. Next he read Tarzan of the Apes and was reading Gulliver’s Travels which he took with him when he was released.
        Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass appealed to one African American boy to say that was the most truthful book about slavery that he had ever read. His salesmanship and enthusiasm influenced another boy to ask for a copy to read independently. Both young men were delighted to learn they could keep their copies when they left the facility.
        The popular Bluford Series have caused students to make some positive decision making choices. The Bully and The Gun were done in groups. Not only did students identify with characters, but the books became a springboard for diving into intense moral decisions where right over wrong took precedence. Also during lunch in the cafeteria a student asked if he could read another book in the series. A girl anxiously wanted to take her copy home to read to her nephew. These books have sparked a reading flame. Igniting a reluctant reader to pick up a book and read and become excited about it makes teaching worthwhile.
        Also, books distributed among the dorms have increased the fingertip availability of reading, too. Staff members have commented that some of their assigned residents have chosen to read during free time than do something else.
        The comprehensive, detailed teaching guides have been most helpful and well used.
        Embracing the Child has turned some reluctant readers into voracious ones, an essential key to learning. Your books have put excitement, enthusiasm and motivation back into the joy of reading! Embracing the Child is making a profound and dramatic difference in the lives of troubled youths! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for helping to make that difference happen!
        —Linda C., Beverly D., Marion P. and Faith W.

Caddo Parish Juvenile Detention Center
1835 Spring Street
Shreveport, Louisiana 71101
Marcus Williams
Program Director
318-226-6770

        The juveniles have responded to the Bluford Book series very well. They love them. The Director of the Facility, Muriel Burns, has started a book club for the juveniles and staff have gotten involved. Lately, juveniles that have been released from the center have asked to take a book or two with them. Other agencies that are involved with the juveniles have heard about this series and are getting their juvenile involved. The books are great. Thanks you so much.

Camp St. Vincent at Face to Face
109 E. Price Street
Philadelphia, PA 19144
Eileen Smith, Executive Director

Central Juvenile Hall Court School
1605 Eastlake Blvd
LA, CA 90033
Dr. Arthur McCoy, Principal

Cornelia’s Neighbors
443 N. 64th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19151
Jane Silverman, Executive Director

Covenant House PA
417 Callowhill Street
Philadelphia, PA 19123
Dan McVay
Education Director

Delaware County/Chester County Juvenile Detention Centers
370 North Middletown Road
Lima, PA 19037
Joan Lockwood

DHS- Williams School (Oakley Training School)
2375 Oakley Road
Raymond, MS 39154
Director of Education: Stacy Adcock
601- 359-4953

Drueding Center / Project Rainbow
413 West Master Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122
Anne Marie Collins
Executive Director

East Columbia High School- Columbia Training School
1730 Hwy. 44
Columbia, MS 39429
Director of Education: Stacy Adcock
601- 359-4953

        Our students are thoroughly enjoying the Bluford Series books that you were so generous to obtain for us. The books are being used to implement our evening leisure reading programs at both East Columbia School and Williams School.

Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women
30 County Road 513
Clinton, NJ 08809
Sherman P. Metzgar
Supervisor of Education

Fellowship Farm
2488 Sanatoga Road
Pottstown, PA 19464
Dr. Herb Levine
610) 326-3008

        I am writing to let you know what a marvelous addition the Bluford Series was to our summer camp program. The counselors tell me that they saw the children walking around and reading them. Some children read themselves to sleep with the Bluford books.
        As a facility serving inner-city children of all races and ethnic backgrounds, Fellowship Farm is the perfect agency for distributing these wonderful books.
        We look forward to continuing our relationship with you to promote reading and enhance literacy among our children.
        —Herb Levine, Executive Director

Front Line Dads
c/o Zion Non Profit Charitable Trust
1501 N. Broad Street
Phila. Pa. 19122
Reuben Jones

Gillespie Middle School BEACON Program
1801 West Pike Street
Phila, PA 19140
Gina Williams, Program Manager

Gloucester County Juvenile Detention Center
RR2 Box 212
County House Road
Clarksboro, NJ 08020
Stefani J. Ramberg

        The students could not stop reading the books. I have never seen them so eager to read. The series was wonderful for them. Thank you again.

Jackson County Youth Center
930 Fleming Ave.
Jackson, Michigan 49202
Brian D. Philson, ACSW
517-768-2741

Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency
Juvenile Home School
1424 Gull Road
Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Carol Cramer Brooks, Principal
269-385-6024

KIPP Foundation
345 Spear Street
Suite 510
San Francisco, CA 94105
Marlon Evans
415-874-7492

        On behalf of the entire KIPP Team and Family, I am writing to express our sincere appreciation for your generous gift. I just got back from a tour of several of our schools. At each stop, our school leaders spoke of how they were excited to introduce your books to their students. Thank you for partnering with us in our effort to equip historically underserved youth with the knowledge, skills, and character needed to succeed in top quality high schools, colleges, and the competitive world beyond.

KIPP Academy Houston
10711 KIPP Way
Houston, TX 77099
Elliot Witney

        Thank you for the very generous gift of a copy of the Bluford series for each of our students. Your support will go an extremely loing way to help our teachers to prepare our students for higher education and self-sufficiency.

From a student:
        Recently you donated to our school a great book called Blood Is Thicker. One of my favorite past-times is reading, and I especially enjoy reading a new book that I’ve never read before and discovering a new adventure. Thank you for sending those books. It was very sincere of you to donate them to students who love to read.
        Hi, my name is Ollisha Pamplin, and I am a seventh grader at KIPP Academcy: Houston. My favorite class is (coincidentally) English. In English class right now, we have organized book-clubs. Your donation came right on time because some of our book-clubs were having a hard time deciding which book they all agree on. All of a sudden, a big box of the same books came in. It was definitely what we needed. Thank you.
        Once again, we love the book, and we love reading.. We even have a chant that says “you gotta read, baby, read.” Reading really means a lot to us and to have so many books donated to us is incredible. Thank you again.
        Sincerely,
        Ollisha P.
        Be nice. Work hard.

KIPP Academy New York
250 East 156th Street
Room 418
Bronx, NY 10451
Quinton Vance

KIPP Adelante Preparatory School
1475 Sixth Avenue, 2nd Floor
San Diego, CA 92101
Kelly Wright

KIPP Ascend Academy
4820 W. Walton Street
Chicago, IL 60651
Jim O’Connor

        Thank you so much for your recent donation of library books to our school. We truly appreciate your support! The students enjoyed reading Frederick Douglass: An American Slave in preparation for their upcoming trip to Washington, D.C.

KIPP Asheville Youth Academy
90 Montford Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801
Shawn Jackson

KIPP Aspire Academy
1826 Basse Road
San Antonio, TX 78213
Mark Larson

KIPP Austin College Prepatory
2410 East Riverside Drive
Suite G1
Austin, TX 78741
Jill Kolasinski

KIPP Bayview Academy
1060 Key Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94124
Molly Wood

        I had the opportunity to look through the Bluford series today. You see, I was/am a math teacher so every time I have an excuse to look at middle school literature, I am so impressed by how far it has come in terms of diversity and content—since I was in middle school! The students at KIPP Bayview Academy in San Franciso are lucky to have their OWN set—and they thank you (even though they haven’t started school yet—we open July 16). And I thank you. How wonderful to be able to tell parents that a set of books awaits their child when they enroll at KIPP Bayview Academy.

KIPP Bridge College Preparatory
991 14th Street
Oakland, CA 94607
David Ling

        Thank you so much for your generous donation of the Bluford Series novels. Our students here in Oakland will most definitely enjoy the books. The novels have made our small library more inviting!

KIPP Chicago Youth Village Academy
2710 South Dearborn, 2nd Floor
Chicago, IL 60616
Sarah Abella

KIPP DC: KEY Academy
770 M Street SE
Second Floor
Washington, DC 20003
Susan Schaeffler

        Thank you very much for your generous donation of a complete Bluford series for each of our 160 students, and a teacher’s manual. The students are ecstatic over your gift and word spread quickly across the school when the books arrived Monday… One of our major projects this summer is establishing a dedicated library to provide our growing student body with permanent space to study, read for pleasure, and work in small learning teams. The Bluford series books you donated will form the core of this new library and will be vital to supporting our goals of challenging students academically while teaching the character skills necessary for success in school and life. Teachers are working to incorporate several of the books into reading class to support our academic focus, with hopes that class reading will inspire students to visit the library to borrow subsequent books in the series to read for pleasure. By encouraging students to borrow and return the books and to take care of them, your gift of library books is concurrently supporting our goals of character education.

KIPP Delta College Prepatory
210 Cherry
Helena, AR 72342
Scott Shirey

KIPP Diamond Academy
2109 Howell
Memphis, TN 38108
Donald Dyer

KIPP Gaston College Preparatory
320 Pleasant Hill Road
Gaston, NC 27832
Caleb Dolan

KIPP Los Angeles College Prep
2635 Pasadena Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90031
John Lee

KIPP Philadelphia Charter School
Hartanft Community Center
2415 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19133
Marc Mannella

KIPP Reach College Prepatory
1432 N.E. 7th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73117
Tracy McDaniel

KIPP San Francisco Bay Academy
1430 Scott Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
Lydia Glassie

KIPP Sankofa Charter School
140 Central Park Plaza
Buffalo, NY 14214
Uchenna Smith

KIPP Sol Aureus College Prep
5201 Strawberry Lane
Sacramento, CA 95820
Alton Nelson

KIPP South Fulton Academy
1286 East Washington Avenue
East Point, GA 30344
Marina Volanakis

        Thank you so much for your very generous donation of books to KIPP South Fulton Academy and to all the KIPP schools across the country. As you know, one of the keys to our success in teaching our students to read and love reading is to provide a print-rich environment full of books that the students identify with and enjoy. Starting from scratch as we are, your donation makes a big difference. I can’t wait to give the kids their books!

KIPP STAR College Prep Academy
433 W. 123rd Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10027
Maggie Runyan-Shefa

KIPP Summit Academy
2005 Via Barrett
San Lorenzo, CA 94850
Jason Singer

KIPP Sunshine Peak Academy
2880 W. Holden Place
Denver, CO 80204
Rich Barrett

KIPP Team Academy
334 Meeker Avenue
Second Floor
Newark, NJ 07112
Ryan Hill

KIPP 3D Academy
4610 E. Crosstimbers
Houston, TX 77016
Dan Caesar

KIPP Truth Academy
3200 South Lancaster Road, Suite 230A
Dallas, TX 75216
Steve Colmus

KIPP Ujima Village Academy
4701 Greenspring Avenue
Room 115
Baltimore, MD 21209
Jason Botel

        On behalf of everyone at KIPP Ujima Village Academy, we would like to thank you for the amazing, generous contribution of the Bluford series of books that were donated to our school. As our school grows, the books will be a great addition to our school library. Our students are assigned a reading assignment of 35 minutes every night for homework, and your contribution will allow the students to have a larger selection of books to read. We appreciate what you have done for our school.

KIPP West Atlanta Young Scholars
80 Joseph E. Lowery Blvd.
Atlanta, GA 30314
David Jernigan

Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall Court School
7285 Quill Dr.
Downey, CA 90242
Dr. Mickey Cureton, Principal

Martha’s Carriage House c/o Child, Inc.
507 Philadelphia Pike
Wilmington, DE 19809
Sue Scheppele

        I wanted to thank you for The Bluford Series books. I have given every child who came through our shelter over the age of 13 the series. They love them! I have heard nothing but great things about the books. Kids who told me in the beginning of their stay that they don’t like to read have picked one up to read. I think the kids like them because the books are about everyday issues that they deal with. I think all the kids can relate to at least one of the books. Friday is reading day here and all of my teens curl up on a couch with a book.
        In addition, I have given the series to teens who are no longer in our program. Even though the teens and their mothers no longer reside in the shelter, they still access our services. One teen told me that her mother made the series her reading project for the summer!!!
        I truly believe that these books have been a great success! However, I am now running low. Is it possible to place another order? Every child who enters our program receives a bookbag full of books, stuffed animals, toys, crayons, coloring books, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc. Your books make an exciting contribution to the teens’ bookbags. Many of our kids arrive with only the clothes on their back and are thrilled to have things they can call their own.
        I am so excited to work with Embracing The Child and Townsend Press. Thank you for supporting our kids!!!

McCracken Regional Juvenile Detention Center
501 County Park Road
Paducah, KY 42001
Lucinda Smith
270-575-7127

        Thanks for the great collection of books. We received them yesterday and as I was unpacking the boxes today the kids were all lining up to get a copy. We haven’t had the chance to do much reading just yet, but the illustrations on the front and the titles certainly have captured everyone’s attention! I’ll keep you posted!

Methodist Services for Children and Youth
4300 Monument Rd
Philadelphia, PA 19131
Katrine Martin
Director of Education and Prevention
215-877-1925 ext 113

        I was thrilled to see that the Bluford Series came with a teachers guide. This will be perfect!

Mid-State Correctional Facility
PO Box 866
Wrightstown, NJ 08562
Cynthia Troiani
Supervisor of Education

Middle Earth Academy
299 Jacksonville Rd.
Warminster, PA 18974
Elizabeth A. Quigley

        I know I am just one of many voices in the choir singing ’thank you’. But a loud THANK YOU must be said! The Bluford books and the Classics series from Townsend Press arrived on Friday. Not only did we get so many terrific books for our students, but so quickly! Thanks again and again.

Montgomery County Youth Center
540 Port Indian Road
Norristown, Pa 19403
Mary L. Newett

        The books you have send to the Montgomery County Juvenile Detention Center have been such a hit. About half of the kids who are here have told me that this is the first time they have read a book. They come into the classroom read for ten minutes, write reflections on their reading and bring the books back to their rooms. The Bluford serries has truly kicked them toward the reading habit. Thank you for all you do.
        —Jo P.

        I just have to share with you some of the things that are happening here. The students love the Bluford series. There are so many students walking around reading, even while walking to the next class. I had a student tell me that the book he read was the first book he ever read. He is on his second book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
        Thank you again,
        Mary Newett

Mountainview Youth Correctional Facility
PO Box 994
Annandale, NJ 08801
Linda Hansen

Norristown Area School District ? 3 Middle Schools
Norristown Area School District
401 N. Whitehall Rd.
Norristown, PA 19403
Ann Kanof, Dir. of Community Relations,
610-584-1004

Northern Home for Children
5301 Ridge Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19128
Maureen Klein

North Middle School
2170 Struble Rd.
Cincinnati, OH 45231
513-742-6016
Eugene Blalock
Ken Glassmeyer

        First, I would like to thank you again for allowing North Middle School to work with you and your company. I feel the school-wide reading of Frederick Douglass was a success. The students and the staff gained more than we will ever know from the experience. We started with a school-wide assembly on Thursday to pique their interest. I explained what we would be reading and how important the staff and I felt reading was; also, I told the students how Townsend Press had graciously donated books for every students. Further, I explained that Townsend Press was making an investment in the students at North Middle School. Then, I read the Afterword to the students. On that following Monday, the teachers read the first chapter to their Advisees. Students were allowed/encouraged to read during Adviser/Advisee for the rest of the week. I told students that they needed to finish the book over the weekend and on Monday disseminated your essay prompts. I told all three hundred some students that their homework for Monday was to write an essay and turn it in to me on Tuesday morning. (This was a case of homework coming from the principal!) I received 86 essays Tuesday morning. I was pleased with the number received (would of loved to had more) and quality of the essays. I personally read every essay and will be sending you a few of them to read. After reading the essays and speaking to students they truly understand the importance of reading and/or an education. It was eye-opening history lesson to most students. I just hope we will be able to build from this experience. Thanks again, I will be sending the essays in a few days.

Overbrook High School
5898 Lancaster Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19131
Ms. Ethelyn Young

People’s Emergency Center
3902 Spring Garden St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Ms. Pamela E. Myers

Philadelphia Futures
230 S. Broad St., 7th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Joan Mazzotti
215-790-1666

        I am writing to thank you for providing a wonderful summer reading opportunity for the students in our Sponsor-a-Scholar program. It was extremely generous of you to provide each student and mentor with a copy of Everyday Heroes. Most students enjoyed reading and discussing this inspiring book. The students who turned out for the bi-weekly Book Club sessions loved selecting Bluford books that appealed to them. As I as sure you know, several students read over 1,000 pages. I particularly enjoyed the way the students clapped for each other when the winners were announced. It was nice to see teenagers being rewarded for reading and proud of their accomplishments.

Point Breeze Performing Arts Center (Academy Program)
1717-21 Point Breeze Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19145
Ashley Brown, Program Director

Police Athletic League of Philadelphia ? 26 PAL Centers
Susan Slawson
Commanding Officer
215.291.9000 x111

        On behalf of the girls and boys of the Police Athletic League, I want to thank you for donating 8,100 books that have been distributed to our 26 PAL centers throughout the city. It is because of individuals like you that our organization continues to meet its mission of providing positive alternatives to the disadvantaged girls and boys of our city.

Providence Center
2635 N. 4th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19133
Ms. Diana Sanchez
215-739-7269

Reading Public Library
100 South Fifth Street
Reading, PA 19602
Frank Kasprowicz
610-655-6350

        On behalf of the Reading Public Library I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the generous donation of paperback books we received from your company through the Berks County Public Library System. . . . Due to funding cuts that have taken place in the state of Pennyslvania, this donation has come at a very opportune time. Our circulation statistics indicate an increase in all areas of our materials, but we have had to stop in the ordering of new materials. These new materials are indeed a welcome addition to our library.

Ridgeview Academy Charter School
1005 Village Way
Latrobe, PA 15650
Sherri Holler
724- 537-9110

Riverfront State Prison
Delaware and Elm Street
Camden, NJ 08101
Alfaro Ortiz, Jr.

Southern State Correctional Facility
PO Box 150
Delmont, NJ 08314
Carrie M. Sharpe
Supervisor of Education

Spartanburg Terrace Tenants’ Association
108 Pineneedle Drive
Spartanburg, SC 29306
Mr. Vernon Beatty

SRCFM Library
801 Butler Pike
Mercer, PA 16137
Mrs. Lemon

St. John’s Residence for Boys/Richmond Hill Residence
144 Beach 111th Street
Rockaway Park, NY 11694
Brother Thomas Trager
(718) 945-2800

St. Mary’s Villa for Children
701 S. Bethlehem Pike
Ambler, PA 19002
Mr. Kyle C. Kanter
215-643-7676 ext. 281

        The teachers have already begun using them during their reading time and rave about the students’ interest in the series. I should have ordered 60 of each title based on the preliminary feedback. Is it still possible to get copies of the other titles? I hope this request doesn’t make me seem greedy. On behalf of the students and myself, please except my sincere thanks.
        I am extremely happy to say that the students who are reading the books are enjoying them tremendously. Some of the students for the first time are actually reading on their own. On behalf of the teachers, students, and myself please accept our sincere appreciation.


State of New Jersey Department of Corrections
Whittlesey Road
PO Box 863
Trenton, NJ 08625
Patty Friend
Director of Educational Services

        On behalf of Commissioner Devon Brown and myself, I sincerely thank you for your generous donation of new paperback books for placement in our libraries within the Department of Corrections. Your kind effort in assisting to expand the reading opportunities for the offender population is most appreciated.

Summerbridge of Greater Philadelphia @ GFS
31 W. Coulter St.
Philadelphia, PA 19144
Darren Spielman
(215) 951-2398

Terrebonne Parish Juvenile Detention
3181 Grand Caillou Rd.
Houma, LA. 70363
Joe Harris
Lt. Christopher Steward
985-853-1202

Today, Inc.
1990 Woodbourne Road
Langhorne, PA 19047
Nancy Shields
215-968-4713x242

Travelers Aid of Philadelphia
17 Walsh Road
Lansdowne, PA 19050
Frances Kloos
215-869-6742

Trey Whitfield School
PO Box 080384
Brooklyn, NY 11208
Janie C. Whitney
718-272-8533

University City High School
3601 Filbert Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Ms. Sandra Mary Dean

Wayne County Juvenile Detention Facility Library
1326 St. Antoine
Detroit, MI 48226
Cynthia Dooley
Librarian
Phone 313-967-2132

        Two of the Summer School teachers were using classroom sets of the books for group reading aloud. The teachers reported that the kids really enjoyed the books. They found the characters to be realistic and the storylines believable. The kids in those class groups have been coming into the Library and individually requesting the books that they had read in class and other titles in the series that sound interesting to them.

Volunteers for Youth Justice
Girls Empowered to Move Successfully
900 Jordan Street
Shreveport, LA 71101
Ms. Shonda Houston

        The GEMS girls absolutely love the Bluford books and so do we adults. We are on the 2nd book of the series and a few girls have even asked to read the third book ahead of everyone else. It’s good to see them so excited as they discuss the characters. Many of them have said that they have passed the books on to their siblings at home because they are interested in reading the books also. It has been a great summer of reading and we look forward to reading the remaining books. I would like to thank you once again for the free books. This is such a great offer from Townsend Press.

Walter G. Cady School at Connecticut Juvenile Training
1225 Silver Street
Middletown, CT 06457
Diane E. Haggis Vice Principal

WEED AND SEED: No Longer Bound Prevention & Training Service Center
1230 Norton Avenue
Bristol, PA 19057
Ms. Martha Miller
215-788-9511

WEED AND SEED: Green Lawn Park Comm. Ctr.
Interfaith Housing Div of Bucks County
100 Corell Drive #600
Suite 102
Bristol, PA 19007
Darlene Holloman
215-788-8148

WEED AND SEED: Bloomsdale-Fleetwing Improvement Council
5616 Mitchell Road
Levittown, PA 19057
Calvin Steed, President
267-254-4049

WEED and SEED: Venice-Ashby Comm. Ctr.
5401 Beaver Dam Road
Bristol, PA 19007
Chester Stone
215-431-4218

White-Williams Scholars
215 South Broad Street
5th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Maria D. Cruz, Program Coordinator
215- 735-4480 Ext 205

William Penn High School
Broad and Master Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122
Judy Mason

Women In Need, Inc.
115 West 31st Street -- 7th floor
New York, NY 10001
Monie Bohnsack
(212) 695-4758

Youth Study Center
Orleans Parish
1100 Milton Street
New Orleans, LA 70122
Ms. Loisteen Holifield
504-286-2200