Update from a week later: The fundraiser has now concluded with the hard copies sold out, having raised over £1,600 ($2,100) for Bookmark! This allows the charity to fully fund its reading programmes for 12 children at risk of falling behind in school. Thank you to those who contributed to making a positive difference!

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Last month, I wrote about making a storybook for my niece and nephew. In that post, I alluded to publishing the book as part of a fundraising campaign with a charity. I’m excited to announce that the fundraiser is finally here!

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About the Charity

The organization I am fundraising for is called Bookmark, and they are a UK-based literacy charity focused on helping children develop their reading skills through a volunteer-led reading programme. I started volunteering with Bookmark over this school year and have been beyond impressed by the charity’s commitment to helping children find enjoyment in reading and, more broadly, in learning.

Last year, Bookmark supported nearly 1,500 children in 90 schools across England. Of this group, approximately half come from disadvantaged backgrounds and a third are speaking English as an additional language. Focusing on literacy early on enables children to do better in school, which could mean lower dropout rates, improved prospects for future employment, and enable greater social mobility.

Really, it means growing the next generation of ideas to make the world a better place.

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About the Fundraiser

For the campaign, I am selling both hardcover and e-book copies of the storybook, with 100% of the proceeds going to Bookmark. The prices are listed below, but you can of course donate more if you’d like! I will be combining the payments to make a single donation that will be matched 1:1 by my work place.

This year, Bookmark aims to double the number of children supported through its reading programme. Just £10 will cover the cost of one Bookmark reading session, while £120 will gift a child with the entire 6-week reading programme.

If you are interested in receiving a copy of the storybook, please email me at jacky@jackynotes.com with your mailing address and number of copies desired (hardcopy or e-book), and I will provide payment details to order. Given the small-batch production of the books (there are only 30 hardcover copies available!), I found this helps avoid the fees charged by crowdfunding and payment platforms.

Lastly, if you are interested in finding out more about Bookmark, check out their 2020/21 Impact Report and volunteering opportunities. There are also a number of insightful research reports by UK’s National Literacy Trust if you’d like to learn more about the impact of literacy on disadvantaged communities. Thank you for your time and support!