According to the US Department of Education, 61 percent of low-income families have no age-appropriate children’s books at home.
Book ownership creates a sense of pride, encourages year-round reading, and allows students to share their favorite stories with friends and family. By putting culturally specific books in the hands of teachers and students, WITS guarantees perpetuity of impact and access to literacy resources. These books, selected because they reflect the lived experiences of our students, are provided at no cost to the recipients. Your contribution directly addresses pandemic-related unfinished learning by building libraries of culturally specific books in classrooms and homes.
Donate to WITS and build home and classroom libraries for CPS students.
WITSUMMER BOOKS CELEBRATION EVENT
Join WITS Associates Board for our WITSummer Books celebration event at Parson's Chicken & Fish in Lincoln Park! This event is free, and 15% of all food and drink will go to WITS. A suggested donation of $25 and participation in the event raffle is encouraged to support WITS literacy programs and books for students’ homes and classrooms.
Where: Parson's Chicken & Fish Lincoln Park (2435 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614)
When: Thursday, June 22nd from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
$50 sends a student home with a set of brand-new, culturally diverse books for the summer.
$100 adds books to the WITS Program Library so students can read high-interest books all school year.
$250 builds a classroom library for a Chicago Public School teacher.
$500 provides training and support for volunteer mentors to meet students' social and emotional needs.
$1,000 provides an entire classroom of Chicago Public School students with books to take home for the summer.
