Overview: The Impact of Books for Bright Futures Funding on the ‘Mister Boots Stories for Change’ Project
Thanks to the generous support from ChangeX and The LEGO Foundation through their Books for Bright Futures funding, The Nap Time Show x Pour Forward has successfully launched the ‘Mister Boots Stories for Change’ project, aiming to distribute 1,000 free children’s books across Southeast Michigan and the metro-Detroit area. This initiative is a testament to our commitment to promoting equitable access to early literacy, and we are thrilled to share the impact we've made so far and our exciting plans for the future.
Our journey began in the summer of 2024 with a dedicated core team from The Nap Time Show and the Pour Forward nonprofit. We selected “I Don’t Want to Go to Sleep!” as our flagship book, perfectly aligning with our mission to promote healthy sleep habits while fostering a love for reading. This project allows us to blend our focus on rest and literacy seamlessly, making it an ideal fit for our audience.
We kicked off our book giveaway tour at the Emagine Health Services’ Back-to-School Bash, where we had an incredible experience distributing nearly 200 books to eager children preparing for the new school year. Following this, we partnered with the Wayne County Department of Health for their back-to-school event, where we not only gave away free books but also provided educational activity sheets that complemented our literacy efforts. Our pop-up event at Riverside Marina brought more excitement as we handed out additional books to delighted kids.
The highlight of our project was the Kid ’N Play event, where we embraced The LEGO Foundation’s commitment to using play as a learning tool. This live reading and book giveaway at a local gaming den was a joyous celebration of literacy and creativity, emphasizing the importance of both play and education. Additionally, we distributed nearly 100 books at Detroit’s MiSide Early Childhood Development Center, where we engaged directly with parents and children, creating a vibrant atmosphere filled with dancing and storytelling.
Our initiative has extended beyond metro Detroit. Inspired by our mission, Cari Chambers, the President of Pour Forward, took our literacy love to her community in the Twin Cities (MN), where children received books and free backpacks for the school year. We’ve also reached preschool students at Starfish Family Services, participated in TEDxDetroit, and made an impact at the Detroit Digital Empowerment Summit.
What started with the goal of distributing 1,000 books has blossomed into a movement, impacting over 1,000 families across the region. Our live reading events have instilled excitement in children about reading, and our chosen book features an interactive drawing page at the back, sparking creativity and engagement. The smiles on the children’s faces and their eagerness to read are testaments to the success of our mission.
Looking ahead, we are determined to continue promoting early literacy throughout our communities and beyond. We aim to expand this initiative throughout the Midwest, hoping to partner with ChangeX and The LEGO Foundation again to give away even more books. Our future plans include distributing books at various “Trunk or Treat” events and concluding the season with an exhilarating performance at the Detroit Public Library for their 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten event series.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to ChangeX and The LEGO Foundation for their invaluable funding and support. Your belief in our vision has made a significant difference in the lives of children and families in our community, and we are excited to continue this important work together. Thank you for helping us turn the page on early literacy!
Overview: The Impact of Books for Bright Futures Funding on the ‘Mister Boots Stories for Change’ Project
Thanks to the generous support from ChangeX and The LEGO Foundation through their Books for Bright Futures funding, The Nap Time Show x Pour Forward has successfully launched the ‘Mister Boots Stories for Change’ project, aiming to distribute 1,000 free children’s books across Southeast Michigan and the metro-Detroit area. This initiative is a testament to our commitment to promoting equitable access to early literacy, and we are thrilled to share the impact we've made so far and our exciting plans for the future.
Our journey began in the summer of 2024 with a dedicated core team from The Nap Time Show and the Pour Forward nonprofit. We selected “I Don’t Want to Go to Sleep!” as our flagship book, perfectly aligning with our mission to promote healthy sleep habits while fostering a love for reading. This project allows us to blend our focus on rest and literacy seamlessly, making it an ideal fit for our audience.
We kicked off our book giveaway tour at the Emagine Health Services’ Back-to-School Bash, where we had an incredible experience distributing nearly 200 books to eager children preparing for the new school year. Following this, we partnered with the Wayne County Department of Health for their back-to-school event, where we not only gave away free books but also provided educational activity sheets that complemented our literacy efforts. Our pop-up event at Riverside Marina brought more excitement as we handed out additional books to delighted kids.
The highlight of our project was the Kid ’N Play event, where we embraced The LEGO Foundation’s commitment to using play as a learning tool. This live reading and book giveaway at a local gaming den was a joyous celebration of literacy and creativity, emphasizing the importance of both play and education. Additionally, we distributed nearly 100 books at Detroit’s MiSide Early Childhood Development Center, where we engaged directly with parents and children, creating a vibrant atmosphere filled with dancing and storytelling.
Our initiative has extended beyond metro Detroit. Inspired by our mission, Cari Chambers, the President of Pour Forward, took our literacy love to her community in the Twin Cities (MN), where children received books and free backpacks for the school year. We’ve also reached preschool students at Starfish Family Services, participated in TEDxDetroit, and made an impact at the Detroit Digital Empowerment Summit.
What started with the goal of distributing 1,000 books has blossomed into a movement, impacting over 1,000 families across the region. Our live reading events have instilled excitement in children about reading, and our chosen book features an interactive drawing page at the back, sparking creativity and engagement. The smiles on the children’s faces and their eagerness to read are testaments to the success of our mission.
Looking ahead, we are determined to continue promoting early literacy throughout our communities and beyond. We aim to expand this initiative throughout the Midwest, hoping to partner with ChangeX and The LEGO Foundation again to give away even more books. Our future plans include distributing books at various “Trunk or Treat” events and concluding the season with an exhilarating performance at the Detroit Public Library for their 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten event series.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to ChangeX and The LEGO Foundation for their invaluable funding and support. Your belief in our vision has made a significant difference in the lives of children and families in our community, and we are excited to continue this important work together. Thank you for helping us turn the page on early literacy!
We will be giving away free children's books at the 2024 DIGITAL EMPOWERMENT SUMMIT!
Hosted by Black Tech Saturdays, this event seeks to bridge the gaps of opportunity in tech.
Of course, The Nap Time Show and Pour Forward will be there to make sure no child gets left behind! By promoting early literacy, we can make sure each child is ready to take on their future with competence and confidence.
Can't wait!
Updates from some recent book giveaways!
Our Kid 'N Play Event (highlighting The LEGO Foundation's fundamental belief that kids learn through PLAY!): https://www.instagram.com/p/C_vhdzsSEH8/
Our book giveaway & performance at Detroit's MiSide Early Childhood Development Center: https://www.instagram.com/p/C_0yolwOgqw/
We also gave away books to community partners and caregivers at #TEDxDetroit 2024!
CHECK OUT THESE PHOTOS!
Pour Forward's President, Cari Chambers, spread the love of early literacy to Minneapolis, MN, USA! We are so proud of Cari for giving away dozens and dozens of books to kiddos in need.
NEXT UP?
• Wayne County Health Department's Safe Sleep Extravaganza Event
• Riverside Marina's Trunk-or-Treat Event
• Read-Along with Mister Boots at the Detroit Public Library!
We have truly enjoyed executing this project and impacting our communities. Together, we can truly make a difference.
Thank you ChangeX, The LEGO Foundation and Book Dash!
The book giveaways have been SO GREAT thus far!
We've hosted pop ups:
- Emagine Health Services
- Wayne County Department of Health
- Riverside Marina
- UPCOMING: Live Reading & Book Giveaway @ Nu Era Gaming Den
Looking to keep this momentum going for sure!
We'll also be at TEDxDetroit 2024...and the Wayne County Safe Sleep Extravaganza!
The books are in and we're getting ready for our first giveaway!!!
We've chosen our flagship book for Mister Boots Stories for Change!
"I don't want to go to sleep," is perfect for our brand and audience.
Plus, it will make a great read for Mister Boots Bedtime Stories!
https://bookdash.org/books/i-dont-want-to-go-to-sleep/#read-book
#MisterBootsStoriesforChange
We're all ready to get this reading party started!
The official blog post announcing Mister Boots Stories for Change: https://www.thenaptimeshow.com/post/mister-boots-stories-for-change-revolutionizing-early-literacy-in-southeast-michigan
Get a limited edition Mister Boots Stories for Change T-Shirt: https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/00aabd03-0a18-4864-8a71-261becc17f3a
Action plan:
Marina - Partner with our friends at the Riverside Marina to hand out books to children and caregivers through the entrance desk
Church - Partner with Goodwill Missionary Baptist Church to host a giveaway event for the Tireman neighborhood
Bedtime Stories: Have character Mister Boots read a ChangeX book on the YouTube series and announce the giveaway to stir excitement and awareness
Omega Psi Phi (historically Black fraternity) - Partner with Eric's fraternity chapter to host a local giveaway as a community initiative
NU Era Gaming Den - Host a "Play & Read" event at family gaming den to harness the power of play to encourage community connection and literacy
DPS connections - Partner with our connections in the Detroit Public Schools system (2 schools in particular) to give away books to classrooms
Email newsletter advertising - Announce to our email subscribers that they can fill out a form to receive a free book
Childcare center owners we know - Centers we've worked with and visited in the past, we'll visit again for live storytimes and to pass out books
Southfield Public Library (read aloud and pass out) - Host a book read aloud and pass out event
Be Our Neighbor Day (Aug 14, 2024) - Annual event in partnership with Detroit PBS, we will give away free books at our booth/table
Timeline: When will you be able to start your project? How often will your team meet? Are there any key dates to share for the project?
Budget: You don't need to share exact prices, but please share how you're planning to spend the seed funding & what costs you're anticipating to get your project up and running:
Impact: How will your community benefit from this project? Do you have any measurable goals for your project, such as the number of people that will participate? Are you hoping to spread knowledge or increase interest in a specific subject?
Location: If your project requires physical space, have you decided the location? Do you have all necessary permission and permits to carry out your project at the chosen location?
All of the physical spaces we'll need to carry out our project, we have personal connections to (family and friends). They have all expressed great excitement to partner with us on this impact mission.
Looking forward to executing the plan!
Great plan!!
