BOOK IT FOR BOOKS
WHAT AN INCREDIBLE DAY!!!
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On October 16, 2021, a big community came together to help fund books for vulnerable and deserving Northern Virginia children -- raising just over $40,000! Now that's a WOW and a ZOWIE and a HOLY COW all in one! Our sponsor and donor list was bigger than ever, and the generosity was beyond amazing. The full sponsor/donor list can be found here. (And please know that if you would still like to be a donor, we'd LOVE to add you to our list!) And to everyone on that list ...
THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!!
THANK YOU!!!
On Book It day, there were in-person and virtual runners and walkers, teams, families, kids, volunteers, cheerleaders, and even a satellite run at John Adams Elementary School, one of the schools supported by RIF of NOVA. Photos tell the story of the day, and a few are shared below. More can be found on our website; find them by clicking right here!
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The Action at Arlington's Bluemont Park... |
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...and at a Satellite One-Miler at John Adams Elementary |
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Librarian and NOVA RIF liaison Emily Godfrey (in yellow) and a team of volunteers (including board member Glenna Orr, below) readied the prize table |
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Over 100 kids and families waited at the starting line for those famous words:
Ready... Set...
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GOOOOOOO!!!!!
And they were off...three times around the playground
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Every child received a participation medal... |
...but the best prize of all was a NOVA RIF book to choose and to take home forever!
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Kyle Jayme, top finisher in the 17-and-under 5K category from the St. Thomas More cross-country team earned a gift certificate from Vienna's Bards Alley Bookstore and offered some great thoughts about Book It!
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Clifford was feelin' the music of the day! Thanks to the volunteers from the Oakton/Vienna Junior Volunteer League and to all the volunteers who helped make the day a success! |
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A couple of Superheroes ran Book It virtually, and their mom and author Heather Gutierrez celebrated with this video! If you don't find this the cutest video ever, we will eat our ...er ... cape!!! |
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Heather Gutierrez was featured as our July author in our New Books...with a NOVA Connection website series. Her newest book has been added to that profile. Check it out here! WAY FUN!!!
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Pictures help tell the love-of-reading story! Do you have a photo of a baby or toddler "reading" or trying? If so, send in your favorite photo(s) to our email: rifnova@gmail.com. We will publish one new photo a month in the newsletter and on our website through the end of the year (with absolutely no names). All we need from you is approval to use the photo in our media.
New! November's BOOK BABY caption: Happy baby pose? Yep, I got that one!
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Donated Books ...
... over 12,000 Collected!
As part of the Voce Chamber Singers’ first live concert since the arrival of COVID, Artistic Director David Mann invited concert goers to bring gently used books to donate to NOVA RIF. Due to their generosity, Voce President Kristin Abbot was able to present several dozen early elementary level books during an October concert. What could be better than a mix of books for children and the magical sounds of live choral music? Thanks to this premier Northern Virginia choral ensemble for connecting with the NOVA RIF community!
If you have or want to collect books for children from Pre-K to grade 8, contact us at rifnova@gmail.com. We will arrange to pick them up. So far, we have collected over 10,000 books for the children we serve! A full list of book donors can be found on our website at: http://www.rifnova.org/contribute-books.html.
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Two Remarkable Women Remembered |
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RIF of NOVA board member Emma Akens Williams (on the right in this 2019 photo) passed away in late September after a courageous 19-year battle with breast cancer. Tributes to Emma, along with more information about her wonderful career and accomplishments, can be found at this link on our website.
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Jacqueline Keathley, mother of NOVA RIF board member and communications director Lisa Keathley, passed away in October. She was a voracious newspaper reader and a great believer in education. Read her memorial tribute by clicking here. |
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The Combined Federal Campaign is Open! |
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NOW through January 15, 2022! The Combined Federal Campaign is open for donations! If you are a federal employee or retiree or a federal contractor working in a federal facility, you are eligible to participate ... and we hope you will! Find RIF of NOVA at this link or by using our CFC code: 18818.
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As always, $3 = One Book = One Child! |
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*Send a check to our mailbox:
RIF of NOVA
P. O. Box 7012
Arlington, VA 22207-0012
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Thank you from the RIF NOVA board and the children we serve for any donation -- no matter how big or small! And thank you for being part of the RIF of NOVA community!
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Please share the RAP! Forward our newsletter to your friends and anyone interested in providing books to children who need them!
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