My Christmas gift to you.

I have thought long and hard and came across the perfect gift to give you. You'll love it. It will  last forever. What could this wonderful package be?

I'm giving you the opportunity to change a human life.

What is this magic you say? Please, let me know the secret.

Simple. A book.  Not just any book; but a book that is one's own. No one else. No second hand. My own book. 

Oh Oh, I feel your disappointment. You thought a present to hold. Well, it is a present to hold; in your heart. You that know me, know how important it is to open the world to children through books.  You also know as a child of poverty, the unprivileged children of the world are my soul mates. That's the reason the First Book Foundation is Rubi J's main charities.

Here's one of their stories:
"We are driven to reach every child because once you meet these kids and see the light in their eyes when they receive books of their own, you can never forget them. One little boy at a book distribution asked for a book on carpentry and we had one that suited him perfectly. Before leaving, he came up to return the book. We told him it was his to keep and watched as his eyes grew big and he tucked the book under his arm and left the room, looking back every few steps to be sure we weren't kidding!"

In 2009 First Book celebrated their 17th year and 65,000,000 book distributed.

Now; here comes the exciting news. Randon House for Children Books has pledged to match book for each book donated through December 31, 2009, to First Book. Double your donation; double your gifts.

Can you find it in your heart to give $5.00 to open the world to a child. You might be the one who saves him or her. What a gift!!!!

Go to http://www.firstbook.org/ to receive your gift of giving.

First book

Do you know why I love books? Why they are my passion? Why First Book is the the charity Rubi J supports?

Empathy.

Most of us can feel sympathy. It hurts to see a young one cry. It hurts to see war on the television news.   But how do we feel the same hurt as our fellow human being? We have to be that person; and through books, this is possible.

I'm reading a book right that I don't wholly understand, but it is so powerful in its narrative that I cry from the pain of the life the author was given.

I read all books; fiction and non fiction. I always come away more fulfill as a citizen of the world. I want this for all children.

Technology has made our world smaller. But, we need more for our internal growth than text messaging. We need to connect. We need to learn. We need to empathize.

Let's give the children of the world the tools. Teach your children to  read. Help other children to read.

As Martha Stewart says: "It's a good thing".


http://www.firstbook.org/