Book Trust, a Denver-based early literacy nonprofit organization, distributed nearly 78,000 free books to over 9,400 students in the Denver area over the past school year. The organization partners with schools to provide books to students from low-income families, with the goal of increasing access to literature and learning opportunities. Book Trust has provided over 10 million books to elementary students across 15 states since its inception. The books are selected and ordered by the students themselves, and delivered free of charge by publishing company Scholastic.
The President and CEO of Book Trust, Patience Peabody, sees literacy as a key factor in helping students lead successful lives, echoing Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs theory which emphasizes the importance of basic needs like education for personal growth. The organization’s efforts come at a crucial time, as reading proficiency levels in 4th graders have decreased since 2022 according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress.
One partner school, College View Elementary, credited Book Trust with helping students combat learning loss experienced during the pandemic and improving the school’s performance. With funding from donations and grants, Book Trust aims to continue its mission of providing books to children in need. Applications for partnership with Book Trust for the upcoming school year are currently open.
