Celebrating Two Years of Partnership: Read to Them and Better2gether
Two years ago, a powerful partnership was formed between Read to Them and Better2gether, driven by a shared vision: to enrich the lives of children with medical complexity through the joy of reading. Spearheaded by Christa Donahue, the Executive Director of Read to Them, this collaboration has already made a significant impact on countless families.
The partnership's mission is simple yet profound: to supply high-quality, culturally diverse books to the Complex Care Clinic (CCC) at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond for distribution to families. These aren’t just any books; they are carefully curated titles from First Book, an organization known for offering beautifully crafted and diverse first-run books at significantly discounted prices. The selection includes board books, picture books, and novels in both English and Spanish, catering to children from infancy through middle school.
In addition to these storybooks, the CCC requested books that specifically address the medical conditions faced by patients and their families. Sara Hudson from Read to Them played a crucial role in coordinating efforts with the CCC to find quality books to fill this need. Sara worked with Dr. Kimbrough to create a wish list of 450 books from the Abilities in Me Foundation that address a wide range of medical challenges. What happened next was nothing short of magical – within a short time, the books were secured, thanks to the combined efforts of various partners.
July marked a milestone as the books were delivered to the CCC, where Serenity, a dedicated Better2gether volunteer, ensures that they reached the hands of the families who need them most. These books, which reflect a wide range of experiences – from stories of bravery and sibling bonds to tales of mobility diversity – are now helping to build home libraries for clinic families.
The Abilities in Me Foundation, based in the UK, played a vital role by offering a significant discount on their books, making it easier for the Read to Them to provide these valuable resources to CCC. Even with the challenge of international shipping, the foundation’s generosity ensured that more families could benefit from these unique stories.
Moving forward, the partnership aims to expand its reach even further. First Book is exploring options to offer books in additional languages, making it possible to meet families wherever they are. Whether they speak English, Spanish, or another language, every child deserves the opportunity to experience the joy of reading.
As we celebrate two years of this remarkable partnership, Sara said “we look forward to continuing our mission: to get as many books as possible into the hands of as many families as we can.” Because every child deserves the gift of reading, and every family deserves the joy that comes with it.
To sustain this initiative, please consider donating to this effort to ensure that the CCC can continue to provide these invaluable resources to families throughout the year.