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Many thanks to the TC 2024 Horse Show and its attendees! Donations of $3,506 will place many books in little hands!

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BOOKS ARE
LIFE CHANGERS.

Donate

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BOOKS ARE
THE FUTURE.

Give Today!

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BOOKS ARE
LIFE CHANGERS.

Donate

Alt text

BOOKS ARE
LIFE CHANGERS.

Donate

Alt text

BOOKS ARE
THE FUTURE.

Give Today!

Born to Read spreads the word of the importance of singing, talking and reading with children every day from birth on. We distribute literature and free books for children & their families in partnership with the Munson Medical Center, Father Fred’s Pantry to Preschool Project, Traverse Area District Library, Grand Traverse Health Department, Northwest Michigan Health Services, and the Great Start Collaborative.

PARTNERS

Thanks to our partners, Born to Read is an all volunteer project.
Since 2011 Born to Read has collaborated with:

Healthy Futures

Delivers introductory Born to Read post card with tips for reading with babies to expectant parents in last trimester visit, followed by Welcome Baby packet with free book to parents of newborns. Healthy Futures also sends texts with age appropriate developmental information to parents of children birth to five.

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Traverse Area District Library

Provides tote bag with free book to new parents and to families with children birth to three participating in the library’s summer reading program. Also offers weekly texts with early literacy tips and fun activities to parents of children birth to three. TADL hosts Born to Read training workshops, meetings, and other activities.

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Great Start Collaborative

Contributes expertise and programs that support parents of young children and provides written materials, translation, and training to help achieve Born to Read goals.

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5 to One

Provides close to home neighborhood centers with play groups and other activities for families with young children. 5toOne works closely with Born to Read to provide literacy information, books, and volunteers to encourage reading with children right from the start. 

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Read Aloud

National campaign that brings partners together to spread the word that reading aloud is the single most important activity that parents can do to prepare their child for success in school and life.  Read Aloud provides Born to Read with campaign materials, statistics, and outreach strategies.

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United Way of Northwest Michigan

We connect and mobilize the caring power of our local communities to advance the common good.

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PoWeR! Book Bags!

We are a 501(c)(3) that distributes literacy materials to underserved children in Northern Lower Michigan.

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Read To Me

Read to Me is a regional collaboration of organizations working together to help your earliest learners to be READING READY. These organizations provide resources and literacy resources as well as family events and other services.

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Cherry Capital Foods

Cherry Capital Foods has been a leader in providing authentically source-identified Michigan products since 2007. We proudly partner with local farmers, artisanal producers, retailers, restaurants, schools and institutions in order to truly transform the way people experience food.

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Horizon Books

Horizon Books was established in 1961 and is still family owned and operated.  That amounts to 60 years of bookselling in downtown Traverse City.  In that time we’ve grown to two locations in Northern Michigan: retrofitting a JC Penney building in Traverse City and the Milliken’s department store in downtown Cadillac.  All of our stores have cozy fireplaces, coffee bars, loooong hours and are in downtown locations.

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Dolly Parton Imagination Library

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is dedicated to inspiring a love of reading by gifting books free of charge to children from birth to age five, through funding shared by Dolly Parton and local community partners in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and Republic of Ireland.

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OUR STRATEGY

Born to Read has created a 3-point strategy for engaging families with young children and encouraging them to read to their babies, every day, right from the start.

Hello!

1.

Hello!

Welcome baby packets go to every newborn and their family at the Munson Medical Center. Over 1,400 packets are distributed yearly.

Free Books

2.

Free Books

Link new parents to local libraries where they receive a gift bag with another free book for their baby and are encouraged to participate in story times and other activities.

Father Fred's Pantry to Preschool Book Packings

3.

Father Fred's Pantry to Preschool Book Packings

Monthly delivery of books to 8 preschools. Over 300 books delivered per month!

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PARENTS are a child’s first and
most important teacher.

The first three years of life are the greatest and most critical period for brain development. Newborns learn from loving interactions with family members. Reading, talking, and singing with your baby everyday will help ensure success in school and in life.

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