First Book, a nonprofit dedicated to educational equity as a path out of poverty, launched Black Kids Matter, an initiative designed to amplify, celebrate and empower the voices of Black children. As part of the initiative, First Book will distribute 17,000 culturally relevant books that showcase diverse characters, voices, and life experiences to children of color, thanks to TD Bank.
The campaign is being introduced in recognition of Juneteenth (June 19th), a holiday celebrating the emancipation of those who had been enslaved in the United States. Here is more information on how to participate from First Book and TD Bank.
Those who participate in this initiative by submitting multimedia responses from the kids they serve by June 17, 2021, will receive a $100 credit to the Diversity & Inclusion section of the First Book Marketplace to thank you for your effort, courtesy of TD Bank.
In addition to collecting these creative responses, we're working together to distribute credits for books in your community. If you serve kids from low-income families, create your free First Book account to be notified when this and other funding opportunities are available!
If you have any questions, please contact First Book Member Services at help@firstbook.org. We look forward to celebrating alongside you and amplifying the voices of the children you serve!
—Your friends at First Book and TD Bank
Black Kids Matter kicked off in seven states across the Eastern seaboard last month, where educators encouraged their students to express the many ways that Black and Brown kids are special. Those educators submitted a wonderful array of videos, drawings, writing and poetry expressing the voices of the kids of color they serve. A selection of that content can be viewed here.
As part of the campaign, the TD Ready Commitment is enabling First Book to make books available for students in pre-K through grade 12. The books are being distributed throughout June, just in time for children to have on hand for summer reading.
To learn more about the Black Kids Matter Initiative, click here.
TD has a long-standing commitment to enriching the lives of its customers, colleagues, and communities. As part of its corporate citizenship platform, the TD Ready Commitment, TD is targeting CDN $1 billion (U.S. $775 million) in total by 2030 towards community giving in four areas critical to opening doors for a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow – Financial Security, Vibrant Planet, Connected Communities and Better Health. Through the TD Ready Commitment, TD aspires to link its business, philanthropy and human capital to help people feel more confident - not just about their finances, but also in their ability to achieve their personal goals in a changing world. For further information, visit td.com/tdreadycommitment.