By Open Books
Stories of growth and expansion are rare these days, especially among non-profit organizations. Everywhere doors are closing as the economy struggles to regain its strength. To make matters worse, 53 percent of adults in Chicago have low or limited literacy skills, making it even more difficult for them to find jobs and support their families. Improving literacy and bringing the joy of reading and writing into people’s lives is the heart of Open Books’ mission.
On November 21st, 2009, in the River North neighborhood, Open Books will open the first bookstore of its kind not only in Chicago, but in the nation.
Open Books, founded in May 2006 by Stacy Ratner, is a non-profit social venture that operates an extraordinary bookstore, provides community literacy programs, and mobilizes passionate volunteers to promote literacy in Chicago and beyond. Stacy began rescuing new and used books from landfills to sell in a colorful and unique used bookstore. The proceeds from the sales of those books fund literacy programs that take place in classrooms right above the bookstore.
In a little over three years, Open Books has hired nine full-time staff members, collected more than 250,000 used books, recruited more than 2,500 volunteers and created four signature literacy programs to serve adults, teens and children.
The weekend of November 21st and 22nd, from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Open Books, located at 213 W. Institute Place, will open its doors to Chicago and welcome all book lovers young and old to experience our magical bookstore with a weekend full of family friendly activities, author events, story time, puppet shows and much more.
Tell your readers why they should join Open Books for its grand celebration and give them the opportunity to learn more about the 75 tons of books we have saved from landfills, our amazing volunteer opportunities, and how they can donate their books to our cause.
–
Open Books is a non-profit social venture that operates an extraordinary bookstore, provides community programs, and mobilizes passionate volunteers to promote literacy in Chicago and beyond. We enhance lives through reading, writing, and the NEWSWORTHY power of used books.
Posted on October 16, 2009