About Us
Our Mission
Children’s Book Project was founded in order to give books to children who need them for equity in literacy, learning, and life. Since 1992, we have given away more than 3 million books to children from under-resourced communities throughout San Francisco and 21 additional California counties.
Book Bank Team
Board of Directors
Risa Schwartz, President
Annelise Goldberg, Treasurer
Catherine Weiser, Secretary
Kristen Bailey
Dannhae Herrera Wilson
Owen Linderholm
Robert Lord
Maureen McCarthy
Melanie Mickelson
Cambria Minott
Cassandra Perkins
Vicki Pollack, Founder & Director Emerita
Our Story
Children’s Book Project is a women-led, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that gives free books to children who need them for equity in literacy, learning, and life. Research shows that children who grow up with books have better literacy, numeracy, and technological outcomes than their peers who don’t. Studies also show that reading aloud to children actually helps their brain development. However, many children in the greater San Francisco Bay Area have few or no books of their own, and attend schools and programs where high quality books are in short supply. Encouraging reading is not enough when families do not have equal access to books.
We collect donations of new and like-new books for children of all ages, from infants to teens. At our Book Bank, we sort and display books according to subject matter and reading level. Teachers, caseworkers, and other staff of organizations who work with children from under-served communities visit our Book Bank and select the books they need for the children they serve, many of whom have never owned a book.
Want to support our mission? Learn how to Give Books, Get Books, and other ways to Support Us.