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Oghale, Remi and Olivia, Carter Lawrence Elementary School students, with Michelle Sadler, librarian at Carter Lawrence Elementary School, a school supported by the Book’em RIF program.
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Alice Chapman, partner at MP&F Strategic Communications and former Book’em board president; Book’em co-founder Georgeanne Chapman; Booth Chapman; and Book’em co-founder Lee Fairbend.
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Mridu Parikh, Laxmi Dasari and Kalpana Gowda, friends of table host and Book'em board member Sanju Pratap.
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Melissa Spradlin, executive director of Book’em.
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Tim Thompson, owner of Barber at Thompson Place Golfing and Grooming; Remi; Sgt. Bonita Blue, School Resource Officer and GREAT Camps facilitator; Oghale, and Michelle Sadler, Carter Lawrence Elementary School librarian.
Local nonprofit Book'em recently held its annual breakfast celebration at Cabana to celebrate 30 years of supporting children's literacy in Nashville.
Guest speakers included Michelle Sadler, librarian at Carter Lawrence Elementary School, Tim Thompson, owner of Barber at Thompson Place Golfing and Grooming, and Sgt. Bonita Blue, School Resource Officer and GREAT Camps facilitator.
Each spoke about the impact Book’em has had on the children they work with, as well as the value it brings to kids throughout Nashville, many of whom receive the first book they call their own thanks to Book’em. Three students from Carter Lawrence Elementary School who participate in the RIF program also shared why reading is important to them.
The mission of Book’em is to create a more literate Nashville and ignite children’s passion for reading through book ownership and enthusiastic volunteers. Through participation and donations, Book'em hosted 120 guests at this year’s breakfast and raised over $35,000 – equal to about 14,000 books – to continue that mission.