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Bernie’s donates 1 millionth book
Tom Clark gives Israel Trujillo-Vargas, 6, of Waukegan Bernie's Book Bank's 1 millionth donated book. | Thomas Delany Jr~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: November 14, 2012 6:08AM
WAUKEGAN — Tuesday was a big day for Bernie’s Book Bank. That was the day the Lake Forest-based non-profit donated its 1 millionth book to a Whittier Elementary School student.
“One million is a big number. I think it’s encouraging what we’ve done. We plan to do another million next year alone,” Bernie’s Book Bank Executive Director Brian Floriani said.
Floriani said he was glad to make the millionth at Whittier Elementary, a school that has been part of Bernie’s Book Bank since its inception three years ago. Every fall and spring for the past three years, each Whittier Elementary student has received six books for his or her own libraries.
Tuesday was no exception. Chicago Bears player Blake Costanzo, reserve linebacker and special teams player, was on hand to distribute books and sign autographs for Whittier students.
“It’s for kids. It’s going to help them ... today’s kids need to learn good and to help each other. This program shows them that,” Costanzo said.
Bernie’s Book Bank’s book donations make a huge impact on Whittier’s students, according to Principal Jason Smith. The school’s first through fifth graders get excited to get their books from the book bank, Smith said.
“We’re lucky to be a collaborative partner with them for so many years,” Smith said. “One thing we struggle with as a school and district is getting books in their hands outside of school.”
The Lake Forest-based non-profit tries to get books to children from birth through sixth grade, according to Bernie’s Book Bank spokeswoman Jill Rosenberg.
“The idea is … in making book owners, we make book lovers,” Rosenberg said.
