One month after the Third Annual Book 'Em North Carolina Writers Conference and Book Fair, the accounting has been completed. After paying authors and publishers their portion of the proceeds from the one-day event, we had $9,000 to donate to literacy groups in Robeson County, North Carolina.
This brings the total donated to $27,600 in three years.
The money was divided equally ($2,250 each) and given to the following groups:
Dolly Parton Imagination Library (via United Way of Robeson County) to buy books for children ages 1 through 5;
Communities in Schools of Robeson County for all grade levels;
Friends of the Robeson County Public Library for adult literacy campaigns;
And the Lumberton Police Department to purchase books for their involvement in Reading Across America.
When I presented the money to Police Chief Mike McNeill, he told me our donation in 2013 provided books for children in five different elementary schools. We are truly touching lives, and we appreciate all the authors and publishers, sponsors, volunteers and attendees who helped to make this happen!
