Be on the lookout for a bus loaded with books, smiles, and perhaps glasses, too. On March 24th, 2014, Bess the Book Bus (Bess) launched her 6th annual Success is in Sight Tour, thanks to continued support from volunteers, CITGO's Fueling Good program, Transitions Optical, Townsend Press, Mercedes-Benz USA and additional corporate sponsors. Bess the Book Bus is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, run by Jennifer Frances. The mission of Bess is to extend literacy across the country.
“Without our wonderful sponsors like CITGO, we would not have the resources to reach all of the children and families that we do. We look forward to traveling across the country again to meet local CITGO Marketers and the Fueling Good Road Trip team in our continuing quest to spread a love for literature," Ms. Frances remarked.
Over the course of 2014, Bess will reportedly travel the United States, making stops at shelters, schools, community centers, and Head Start facilities in nearly 60 cities. Donated books will also be read aloud to children, to help spread a love for reading. The mobile literacy initiative, headed by Jennifer Frances, will also visit school classrooms and libraries this year. The new opportunity is projected to significantly increase the impact of the program that donates free books to the nation’s most underserved students.
Bess the Book Bus has previously supported more than 60,000 children, donated more than 450,000 books, and visited 48 states. In 2014, Ms. Frances aims to give away more than 60,000 books on the tour. She is still looking for a hotel sponsor. I encourage book lovers to visit www.bessthebookbus.org and www.FuelingGood.com.
Please like Bess the Book Bus on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bessthebookbus. Watch videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/bessthebookbus. You may also follow Bess on Twitter @BookBess. Find out where Bess will be. It could make the difference in the life of a child in need.
If you missed the interview about Jennifer Frances, and Bess the Book Bus, please read it below.
--The Nook
What difference can one person make? Ms. Jennifer Elizabeth Frances is the founder of Bess the Book Bus. She proves that making a single effort can lead to making a significant impact. Born in Worchester, Massachusetts, Jennifer grew up primarily in the Southeast, but moved a lot in her family.
"We lived in MA, TX, GA, LA, NY, and FL while I was a kid. I have lived in FL, TN, AZ, MA, NC and FL again in the last 15 years," she said.
In an age where reading devices have become popular for many, Ms. Frances makes reading fun in an engaging way for underprivileged youth. She spreads the joy of holding and enjoying physical books to many children who greatly need them, by traveling to various cities, giving away free literature. Jennifer also addresses vision needs, with the help of sponsors. Although the Book Bus is located in Tampa, Florida in between trips, it will leave for SC, NC, NJ, NH, NY, ME, PA, and VA on Friday. I had the pleasure of catching up with Jennifer Frances to learn more about the wonderful venture that she founded.
Andrea: Can you please explain a little about what you do, and where the great books that you give away come from?
Jennifer: We have been very fortunate to have some great corporate sponsors step up and help us. Transitions Optical, VSP Vision Care, CITGO, Townsend Press and Capstone Publishers have all been with us for five years. They support our national outreach. Last year, Mercedes-Benz USA donated a brand new fully outfitted Sprinter 3500. We are also lucky to get donations from publishers such as Candlewick Press, Two Little Birds Publishing, authors like Rebecca Emberly, Mo Willems, Cynthia Lord, John Perry, and Debbie Diessen. And from organizations like
Jennifer: We have been very fortunate to have some great corporate sponsors step up and help us. Transitions Optical, VSP Vision Care, CITGO, Townsend Press and Capstone Publishers have all been with us for five years. They support our national outreach. Last year, Mercedes-Benz USA donated a brand new fully outfitted Sprinter 3500. We are also lucky to get donations from publishers such as Candlewick Press, Two Little Birds Publishing, authors like Rebecca Emberly, Mo Willems, Cynthia Lord, John Perry, and Debbie Diessen. And from organizations like
First Book. First Book has been helping Bess for 8 years. We have gotten millions of dollars of books from them.
At home, we are supported by the Tampa Bay Rays, Publix Super Markets Charities, Inkwood Books, often Target and personal donors.
Andrea: Who are your helpers or teammates?
Jennifer: We have several volunteers, but
David Fain is the longest standing and currently traveling with us. This is his third nationwide trip.
Andrea: How, when, where and why did you start the Book Bus?
David Fain is the longest standing and currently traveling with us. This is his third nationwide trip.
Andrea: How, when, where and why did you start the Book Bus?
Jennifer: We started right here in Tampa in 2002. I was looking for a place to volunteer and couldn’t find a fit. The idea of Bess came to me like the pull of the moon. She is named after my Nana, Bess. I knew it was something I
could do. Something I had to do.
Andrea: From what I learned about this project, it seems like your 11 year journey has been rewarding but sometimes tough. How did you feel
cashing in your 401(k) to get started with charity work? Did you ever worry about giving up your job and stability to pursue your dream?
Jennifer: It felt great. It was exhilarating, really. It was the most natural thing ever. I never second-guessed it. It got REALLY hairy in 2009. Ok, it was hairy to start with, but 2009 was critical. I almost lost everything. I went to a lawyer, got advice, got mad at it and decided to double down and keep at it. We were not raised to surrender in my family. Bess is worth fighting for. Our kids deserve to be fought for. I worked nights until 2011. I will again if I need to. Nothing will stop me from chasing this dream.
In 2009, thanks to SuperPages.com, we got our first national sponsorship. First Book put us in touch with them. The Summer of Good Reads and Good Deeds took us to 35 states in 70 days and landed us on the CBS Early Show, in People Magazine and in Family Circle. It also got us our sponsorships from Transitions Optical, Townsend Press, Capstone Publishers and CITGO.
Andrea: How many states have you traveled to?
Jennifer: We have been to all 48 contiguous states. Most of them several times. We hope to go to Hawaii in 2014 through a sponsorship from a Hawaiian Company and Alaska in 2015.
Andrea: What kind of youth have you met along the way?
Jennifer: The kids we meet are what keep us going in the roughest times. They are hungry to learn and succeed. They shine.
Andrea: Please share your wonderful news about partnering with Transition Optical, and how current funding efforts have been for you.
Jennifer: Transitions Optical and VSP Vision Care bring the magic of healthy sight to our kids. Thousands of kids that could not afford healthy sight otherwise get free comprehensive eye exams and free glasses with Transitions Lenses each year. The mobile vision clinic really is magic. I tear up just thinking about it.
could do. Something I had to do.
Andrea: From what I learned about this project, it seems like your 11 year journey has been rewarding but sometimes tough. How did you feel
cashing in your 401(k) to get started with charity work? Did you ever worry about giving up your job and stability to pursue your dream?
Jennifer: It felt great. It was exhilarating, really. It was the most natural thing ever. I never second-guessed it. It got REALLY hairy in 2009. Ok, it was hairy to start with, but 2009 was critical. I almost lost everything. I went to a lawyer, got advice, got mad at it and decided to double down and keep at it. We were not raised to surrender in my family. Bess is worth fighting for. Our kids deserve to be fought for. I worked nights until 2011. I will again if I need to. Nothing will stop me from chasing this dream.
In 2009, thanks to SuperPages.com, we got our first national sponsorship. First Book put us in touch with them. The Summer of Good Reads and Good Deeds took us to 35 states in 70 days and landed us on the CBS Early Show, in People Magazine and in Family Circle. It also got us our sponsorships from Transitions Optical, Townsend Press, Capstone Publishers and CITGO.
Andrea: How many states have you traveled to?
Jennifer: We have been to all 48 contiguous states. Most of them several times. We hope to go to Hawaii in 2014 through a sponsorship from a Hawaiian Company and Alaska in 2015.
Andrea: What kind of youth have you met along the way?
Jennifer: The kids we meet are what keep us going in the roughest times. They are hungry to learn and succeed. They shine.
Andrea: Please share your wonderful news about partnering with Transition Optical, and how current funding efforts have been for you.
Jennifer: Transitions Optical and VSP Vision Care bring the magic of healthy sight to our kids. Thousands of kids that could not afford healthy sight otherwise get free comprehensive eye exams and free glasses with Transitions Lenses each year. The mobile vision clinic really is magic. I tear up just thinking about it.
Bess the Book Bus stopped in Detroit to give glasses and books to young readers. Though funding is better than ever, we are still operating at about 85%. We could really use a hotel sponsor and a serious commitment-50,000+ books a year- from a big publisher like Scholastic, Disney or Penguin.
Andrea: How do you decide where to go, and where will you be next?
Jennifer: We choose locations based on need. Schools and centers need to serve underprivileged families. We coordinate with our sponsors for some locations and we also pick a lot of our own. Our next big event is with Transitions/VSP and Darius Rucker in Charleston, SC on 8-14-13. Hooties Homegrown Roundup will make sure that over 1,000 kids have school supplies, vision screenings, books and more. Then we head to Maine with CITGO’s Fueling Good Road Trip. We will visit dozens of towns there and see thousands of kids. After that is Camden, NJ with Townsend Press and then the Buffalo Zoo with Double Eagle and Ellicott Development. That is a Head Start event that will serve over 1,000 kids. Our last event is Neptune Fest in VA Beach with CITGO on9-28-13. Then home to Tampa to see our kids here!
Andrea: How can the public support you?
Jennifer: We could really use help finding a hotel sponsor. Also, every $1 donated via our website provides up to TWO NEW BOOKS for our kids. Also, liking us on Facebook is a plus!
You may keep up with Jennifer and Bess the Book Bus, by connecting with her online.
Twitter@BookBess; Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/bessthebookbus;
website www.bessthebookbus.org
Great post, thanks for sharing.
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