Madonna Youths DoSomething.org to Make a Better World (with) Books

When Brandon and Ryan Kolvek discovered that over 80% of underserved schools in New Orleans were damaged by Hurricane Katrina, resulting in one book for every 300 students in the most impoverished school districts, they decided to do something to help.They wanted to do something big to help re-stock the libraries in these impoverished areas.

They learned that Dosomething.org and Better World Books joined forces to share resources and collect books for the Recovery School District in New Orleans and are working with these organizations. (The Recovery School District is a school district designed to transform underperforming schools in New Orleans and turn them into successful places where children can learn.)

Dosomething.org, founded by Nancy Lubin, founder of Dress for Success, and actor Andrew Shue, is a not-for-profit organization that targets people 25 years old and younger to effect social change on-line by “doing good stuff” off-line.

Better World Books was founded by three friends from the University of Notre Dame who decided to make promoting literacy the core of their business.Their motto is “The on-line book store with a soul.”Better World Books believes that education and access to books are basic human rights, and books sold on BetterWorldBooks.com help fund high-impact literacy projects in the United States and around the world. 

Brandon and Ryan are reaching out to the community to help them in their cause. Please go through your bookshelves, and those boxes in the attic, and donate any children’s books that your family is no longer using. There are collection boxes at all masses in the Church and the Church on the Hill.The books should be in good condition and contain no damages such as rips or water damage. Brandon and Ryan will have these books shipped by Better World Books to needy schools in New Orleans.

We commend Brandon and Ryan for reaching out to help those less fortunate, and for their initiative in taking on such a worthy cause. We look forward to helping them obtain as many donated books as possible.