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Books to Dreams, Inc. Program Update
October – December Quarterly 2006, Vol. 10 No. 2
NEW! www.bookstodreams.org
312 Ferguson Road, Manchester, CT 06040
In This 11th Year,
Books to Dreams, Inc. Reaches Over
A Quarter of A Million
Donated Children’s Books Given!
This space is reserved for thoughts and prayers of peace for our world.
NEW FEATURE! BTD Volunteer BRENDA ROSEN has read nearly all of the 85 Newbery Award
winning books and some of their sequels. Her selection, for this quarterly, is the Newbery Award
Book – Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech, 1994, which she highly recommends for teen/adults.
1. SPECIAL EVENTS
A. WILLIMANTIC ROTARY CLUB INVITES BTD DIRECTOR TO SPEAK
October 17, Tuesday – BRIAN McCARTHY, President, and members listened attentively to the
latest news about BTD. As always, it was a pleasure to speak with WRC members. Thank you
very much. This Rotary Club awarded BTD a $500 book grant in August, 2006.
B. LESLIE WILPER OF MANCHESTER DONATES 400 NEW HARDCOVER BOOKS
October – LESLIE WILPER has now donated a total of 700 NEW, large hardcover books to BTD.
We are grateful and thank you for this generous gift. Leslie is a member of the GRA Soroptimists.
C. CT RENEWAL TEAM CHILDREN’S LEARNING CENTER INVITES BTD DIR. TO READ
October 18, Wednesday – VALENCIA PEREZ invited the BTD director to be a “celebrity reader”
as part of a Reading is Fundamental (RIF) program at the Children’s Learning Center in
Hartford. Thank you all for this special chance to meet and read with your children once again.
Manch. Head Start/MHS/BTD Connection:
Head Start - Dr. J. Reisman & A. Messecar
MHS Vol. D. Jenkins & K. Cocco, Faculty
Some Willimantic Rotary Club Members
700 BTD books donated
to Norris Elem. School
from 312 ‘warehouse’
Tom & Jane Zemke, Manchester, 10 years
of book and reading buddy donations to BTD
delivered to 312 (see D, page 2)
CRT Children’s Learning Center Staff & Celebrity Readers
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D. JANE AND TOM ZEMKE OF MANCHESTER DONATE NEARLY 1,000 BOOKS
October 26, Thursday – JANE & TOM ZEMKE delivered nearly 1,000 books, hundreds of
‘reading buddies’, educational supplies and activities to BTD. Their daughter JAN BURRELL of
Columbia donated as well. They have been donating for 10 years! (Please see Three Moms
Connected by Literacy on the BTD website for a special story about Jane or contact BTD if you
would like a copy). We thank you for your dedication and donations! (See photo on page 1).
E. GABRIELLE COMEAU OF MANCHESTER VOLUNTEERS, DONATES BOOKS AND $234
November 7, Tuesday – Gabrielle, in lieu of gifts for her Bat Mitzvah on October 7, asked guests
to purchase books for BTD. 85 NEW books, reading buddies & two book baskets were donated.
Gabrielle donated $234 as her gift. Special thanks to Gabrielle for this kind and generous gift.
Mazel Tov! Gabrielle also volunteers for BTD by processing books and other services.
F. THE KNOX FOUNDATION OF HARTFORD AWARDS BTD A $2,000 GRANT
December – HEDY AYERS, board member and President EUGENE BATEN informed the BTD
director that a book grant of $2,000, to be used for the children in need in Hartford, was awarded
to BTD. This grant is an immense gift for which we are most grateful!
G. HARTFORD JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER ASKS BTD DIRECTOR TO VISIT
December 22, Friday – GINA JULIANO, Principal of young women’s H.J.D.C. School, invited the
BTD director to speak with students. It was an honor to share my experiences and thoughts about
reading and writing with these bright, courteous students. Thank you Gina, staff and students.
H. DAWN PUBLICATIONS OF CALIFORNIA DONATES 329 NEW BOOKS
December – Dawn Publications, RICHARD SCOVEL-RODRIQUE, sent BTD 329 NEW books.
Dawn Publication’s mission is to “assist parents and educators to open the minds and hearts of
children to the transforming influence of Nature”, and their books are remarkable. BARBARA
McKINNEY’S (Bolton) A Drop Around the World and Pass the Energy Please as well as CONNIE
MUTHER’S (formerly of Manchester, now California) My Monarch Journal, have been published
by Dawn. Thank you so very much!
2. VOLUNTEERS, DONATIONS, AND ASSISTANCE – THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH THE PROGRAM WOULDN’T BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS
VOLUNTEERS
NEW! Special welcome and thanks to BETTY CARR, ANNE CARR & JESSICA SOBIN all of
Manchester. Anne picks up books that are then processed by Betty and delivered back to 312 by
Anne. Jessica also picks up and processes books.
TARA ARNER, Manchester, and LINDA PAQUETTE, South Windsor, continue to process and
deliver books to 312 weekly. LINDA CLARK*, Enfield, and EVELYN CLARK, Newington, both of
LOVABLE HUGGABLES, donated, tagged and delivered reading buddies. BARBARA
HAMILTON of Manchester picked up books/buddies at 312 and delivered them to 3 shelters in
Hartford. JULIE ANN McCORMICK, East Hartford, picked up and labeled books. Holy Family
volunteers BRENDA ROSEN, South Windham, AMY HENRY, Oakdale, DEE & DALE HAMMON,
Windham, ANNETTE MURPHY, Mansfield Center, MARY COX, Windham, NORENE SWEET,
Windham, PAT DUBIEL*, Columbia, LUZELLA ROOS, South Windham, JANET HAINES,
Windham and PAMELA HORROCKS*, Willimantic once again volunteered at the Holy Family
Home and Shelter for the BTD literacy programs.
Please note that many other volunteers are listed on pages 7 and 8.
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MONETARY DONATIONS
KARAN BYCHOLSKI’S ’05-’06 Kindergarten class of Goodwin School, East Hartford, $50;
BRENDA ROSEN, South Windham, $50; MIRIAM STANNARD EPSTEIN, Manchester, $60;
DAVID & BILLIE KAPP, Bolton, $125 & $125 in honor of Henry Krisch, ($250); DEIDRE
GOLDEN, Bolton, in honor of Gabrielle Comeau, $20; MARY TALAGA, Coventry, $50; KIT &
JAMIE EVES, Willimantic, $100; CONNIE GILLIES, Middletown, $50; JEANNE KORNRICH,
Baltimore, Maryland, in honor of friendship with Esther Brandwein, $18; NANCY SIMONDS, South
Windsor, $75; GAYLE & BARRY TRABITZ, Manchester, $25; ELIZABETH DEMONTIGNY &
DAVID CARPE, Newton, NJ, in honor of Claire D’Appollonio, $20; PAIGE & WILL CALHOUN,
Manchester, gifts in honor of L. W. Batchelder School Staff, The Rosa Family, Judi & Paul
Gallagher and The Kenna-Moore Family, $100; Martin Elementary School (Cheri Bertus),
Manchester, $100; ELLEN & GEORGE SULJAK,Vernon, in honor of Steven Suljak, $25;
BARBARA MILLER, Ashford, $50; RUTH NYE & PETER GROSE, Manchester, $100; Azure Hair
and Day Spa staff, Manchester, a gift for Linda Benson, owner, $140; Mystic Meditation Groups
(Gunilla Norris, Laura Zaglio, Natalie, Dorothy, Sarah, Barbara H., Priscilla, Liz, Stephanie,
Marie, Pam, Betsy, Cindy, Jeanne and others), $190.
See also Special Events on pages 1 and 2
BTD always needs and appreciates monetary donations………Total for this quarter = $3,717.00
BOOKS and/or READING BUDDY DONATIONS (see also Special Events)
(B) = BOOKS, (RB) = READING BUDDIES, (D) = DELIVERED
LINDA DEVLIN, Manchester (RB,D); ANGELA DAGON, Ellington (B, RB, D); LINDA
PAQUETTE, Manchester (B, D); SUE ORLOWSKI, Manchester (B, RB, D); JENNIFER
GUIDREY, Suffield (B, D); VICKI MERRIAM, Bolton (B, D); VITA, THOMAS, DAWN BEEBE &
FAMILY, Andover (B, D); KELLY ANN PABILONIA for MOMS Club of Coventry/Mansfield, (B,
D); PATRICIA GRENIER, Vernon (B, D); MARIE WEBER, Coventry (RB, D); HAZEL
WHITEHOUSE, Ashford (B NEW!, D); REGINA PULEO, Lebanon (B NEW!, D); Middletown
District of Norwich Diocesan of Catholic Women, CONNIE GILLIES (President) & ANNETTE
MURPHY, Mansfield Center, for delivering (627 B, D); NORMA MARCHESANI, Vernon (B, D);
KATHY YOUNG, Ellington (B, RB, D); LlSA LIBUTTI, South Windsor (B,D); BARBARA
HAMILTON, Manchester (B,D); UUS:East Holiday Choir, Manchester, BOB RICHARDSON (and
in loving memory of) MARILYN RICHARDSON, & BARBARA HAMILTON, delivery, (B, D);
Horace Porter School, JEANNIE JOHNSON, Columbia (B,D); Connecticut Audubon Society,
JUDY HARPER, Glastonbury (B,D); Mystic Meditation Group (B, RB, D); MARY ELLEN
HILLIARD & Tidelawn Manor residents, Westbrook – Thanks to JANICE PIKAL, ANNETTE
MURPHY & MARY COX for delivery (Handmade RB, D); BARBARA DEAN & DAVID
ENGELSON, Hockanum Valley Community Council, Inc. (B, D); MICHELE BEAULIEU &
Soroptimists of Greater Hartford (Handmade RB, D); ROGER FERGUSON, Moscow, ID (B,
D); KAREN ZIEL & South Congregational Church young people & members (B, D); DOLORES
& CHUCK SWALLOW, Manchester (B,D); KRISTIN & JORDAN MANOS, Frederick, MD (B, D).
OTHER DONATIONS – AMY & GUY HENRY, Oakdale, donated new book boxes; LEON &
KATHY VIZZARI, owners of Visible Changes in Old Greenwich, once again collected dozens of
new backpacks from their clients (since 1998). Special thanks to PAT ESTILL, the Director,
Special Projects of The Connecticut Commission on Children for the contact and to State
Representative CHRISTEL TRUGLIA, Stamford, for delivery; NANCY SIMONDS, South
Windsor, donated pencils; St. Mary School, Putnam, students, staff & families donated holiday
gifts for children organized and delivered by DR. FRANCOISE GAUTHIER, Principal, & PAT
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PODURGIEL; LINDA PAQUETTE, South Windsor, donated a $15 Borders gift card; MARY-ELIN
RENZULLO, Winchester, donated and delivered new backpacks; Church members and children
of South Glastonbury First Congregational Church donated fleece blankets they made.
Thanks to KAREN ZIEL for delivery; Special thanks to GEORGE TORELLO & KIM LANGLEY,
Torello Engineers, Essex, who printed BTD literature.
3. STATISTICS – OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER 2006
BTD LITERACY PROGRAMS given at Holy Family Home and Shelter, Willimantic: OCT. 19 – 6
children (ages from 4 mos. to 16 yrs.), 6 parents; NOV. 17 – 10 children (expectant mother of
twins to10 yrs.), 5 parents; DEC. 18–4 children (expectant mother of twins to 7 yrs), 2 parents.
TOTALS: 20 children, 13 parents. See Recipient Statistics for books given in programs.
BTD LITERACY PROGRAMS given at Manchester Head Start: OCT. 25 – 2 programs, 34
children; NOV. 28 – 1 program, 17 children; DEC. 12 – 2 programs, 34 children.
TOTAL: 85 children. See Recipient Statistics for books given in programs.
BTD Individualized pre-school books for Manchester Head Start completed by children (ages
3-5) with assistance from parents and/or teachers – 85
FEATURED BOOKS – Old MacDonald, Corduroy
OUTREACH VISITS to former shelter families 4 (phone visits-East Hartford, West Hartford &
Ohio)
4. RECIPIENT’S LETTERS OF APPRECIATION
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RECIPIENT'S LETTERS - CONTINUED
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RECIPIENT'S LETTERS - CONTINUED
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RECIPIENT'S LETTERS - CONTINUED
5. RECIPIENT STATISTICS
Special thanks to all of these individuals mentioned for their important volunteer efforts!
GIVEN BY BTD
Organization
Access Emergency Shelter
Covenant Shelter
Holy Family Home & Shelter
My Sister's Place II
Phoenix House & Genesis
Sal. Army Marshall House
Thames River Family Prog.
TVCCA Homeless Shelter
Village for Fam. & Child.
Location
SHELTERS
Danielson
New London
Willimantic
Hartford
New London
Hartford
Norwich
Norwich
Hartford
Contact Person
Dee & Dale Hammon
Dee & Dale Hammon
Miriam Epstein
R.LaFrance & B. Hamilton
Dee & Dale Hammon
Barbara Hamilton
Amy Henry
Amy Henry
Barbara Hamilton
Child.
Books
60
60
100
81
60
80
120
120
97
Parent's
Choice
Child.
Books
10
10
40
27
10
27
20
20
Reading
Buddies
30
45
45
48
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GIVEN BY BTD
Organization
Location
Contact Person
Child.
Books
Parent's
Choice
Child.
Books
Reading
Buddies
SOUP KITCHENS (also see BTD-CLA Connection)
Cornerstone Soup Kit.
Rockville
Joanne Bedard
Isaiah 58 Covenant Soup Kit. Willimantic
Brenda Rosen
Loaves & Fishes Soup Kit.
Hartford
Jan Damiano
Loaves & Fishes Soup Kit.
Enfield
Linda Clark*
MACC Shepherd's Place Kit.
Manchester
Jan Damiano
275
529
140
100
310
HEAD START/EARLY CHILDHOOD/DAY CARE PROGRAMS
Valencia Perez
Children's Learning Center
Hartford
Even Start Program
Willimantic
Brenda Rosen
Manchester Head Start
Manchester
Ann Messecar
120
205
295
30
30
102
75
83
102
INNER CITY SCHOOLS
Hartford
Dr. Michael Sharpe
Jumoke Academy
Norris Elementary School
East Hartford
Laura Hickson
400
370
150
130
220
LITERACY PROGRAMS
Hockanum Fam. Rsrce. Ctr.
Pamela Sailor
100
35
P. Murphy & L. Charanian
M. Prewitt & D. Latney
100
35
230
85
50
150
East Hartford
SPECIAL
Big Brothers, Big Sisters
Tolland
Covenant to Care for Child.
Bloomfield
Hartford Correct. Center
Hartford
Hartford Juv. Det. Ctr.
Hartford
Manch. Area Net. for AIDS
Manchester
Parent Aide Prog.-St.Francis Hosp. Hartford
Prevent Child Abuse CT
Plainville
Project Genesis
Willimantic
30
55
25
100
25
100
50
50
60
50
150
2
TOTALS
4322
826
5148
GRAND TOTAL OF BOOKS
1160
Joan Dower*
Gina Juliano
Mo Cacace
Patricia Berky
Susanne Santangelo
John Cizman
50
* Also BTD Board Member
Organization
Location
Contact Person
PERMANENT CHILDREN'S LIBRARIES
Children's Learning Center
Hartford
Valencia Perez
Literacy Facilitators
Manchester
Sandy Lambert
Manchester Head Start
Manchester
Ann Messecar
Child.
Books
Teacher
Resource
50
205
35
12
= NEW RECIPIENTS
TOTALS
In peace,
Miriam Stannard Epstein, director
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