• project description
• population served in 2007
• reading list
• in the news
• thank you

project description

The Book Giving Tree believes that child literacy in an important issue in the city of New Orleans due to the historically under-performing inner-city school district. The Book Giving Tree helps children to become interested in reading by allowing them to take home a new book that they would otherwise likely go without.

In August and early September, The Book Giving Tree contacts every Orleans Parish public school teacher (Pre-K through 2nd grade) and requests a list of their students with a book chosen by each student (from our list of 100 picture books every child should read). Once we receive the requests, we begin fundraising to collect books and monetary donations. In December, we wrap and deliver the books to the schools before the students leave for Holiday Break.

The Book Giving Tree relies completely on book donations from generous individuals, organizations, and companies. Although we are an organization of Tulane University students, we are not funded by the university.

Please see our thank you page for a list of donors and participating schools from BGT 2007.

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population served in 2007

The following demographic information was extrapolated using data from the Greater New Orleans Community Data Center. The GNOCDC collected the data in October of 2007.

by age

by income

at risk* students served:  81%

*The GNOCDC labels children at risk if they receive free or reduced lunch. Children must meet the following criteria in order to qualify for free or reduced lunch. Children whose families have income of 130% or less of the Federal poverty guideline as well as those who receive food stamps or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) are eligible for free lunch. Those whose families have incomes from 131% to 185% of the poverty guideline are eligible for reduced-price meals.

measures of illiteracy

fourth-graders in the RSD* scoring below “basic” on the LEAP** test:     32%

*The Louisiana Educational Assessment Program (LEAP) are part of Louisiana’s criterion-referenced testing program. The tests are high stake and measures how well a student has mastered the state content standards. See the Louisiana Department of Education’s website for more information.

**The Recovery District (RSD) operates 33 traditional schools and oversees 26 charter schools. The School Board operates five schools and oversees a dozen charter schools. The state school board oversees two other charter schools.

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reading list

*These five books are substantially more expensive than the others on the list. We suggest that donors purchase the other books on the list first, unless you are sponsoring a specific child requesting the book.

Paperback books only, please.

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in the news

Gambit Weekly: The Gift of Knowledge

http://www.bestofneworleans.com/dispatch/2007-11-20/news_feat2.php

The Hullabaloo: Campus Group Concentrate on NOLA Literacy

http://media.www.thehullabaloo.com/media/storage/paper958/news/2007/11/30/News/Campus.Groups.Concentrate.On.Nola.Literacy-3126395.shtml

The New Wave: The Perfect Gift: Books for Kids

http://tulane.edu/news/newwave/112107_books.cfm

The New Wave: News Splash-- Right Reading

http://tulane.edu/news/newwave/splash_0108.cfm

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thank you

We would like to thank all of the individual donors across the country (and across the world!). We had hits on our website from 320 cities, and we received book and monetary donations from over 20 states! Without your help, we would never have been able to provide over 4,000 books to children in the New Orleans Public Elementary Schools over the Holidays.

We would like to give a special thanks to the following groups

Borders in Metairie (discount on purchases)
Barnes and Noble in Metairie (discount on purchases)
Calyon Financial, Inc. in Chicago
Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship in New Orleans
Daisy Girl Scout Troop #345 in Chicago
F. Gerald Maples, P.A. in New Orleans
First Book in New Orleans
First Presbyterian Church in New Orleans
HarperCollins Publishers
Housing and Residence Life at Tulane
Independent Publishers Group in Chicago
Isidore Newman School in New Orleans
Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority, Tulane Chapter
Maple Street Book Shop in New Orleans (discount on purchases)
Metairie Park Country Day School
Octavia Books in New Orleans
Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity, Tulane Chapter
The Gambit Weekly in New Orleans
The New Orleans Hornets
Tulane University Biloxi Campus
Tulane University Career Center (HireTulaneGrads.com)
Tulane University Development and Campaign Administrative Office
Tulane University Mortar Board
Tulane University Office of Academic Affairs and Provost
Tulane University Office of Alumni Affairs
Tulane School of Law
White Plains High School in New York
University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
University of Texas
Windsor Hill Elementary in South Carolina
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Loyola Chapter

Lastly, we would like to thank the public schools (especially the teachers) for participating in the project. The following is the list of New Orleans Public Elementary Schools that participated in the Book Giving Tree during the 2007 Holidays.

Abramson Science and Technology Charter School
Agnes L. Baudit Elementary School
Albert Wicker Elementary
Alice M. Harte Charter School
Audubon Charter School
Benjamin Banneker Elementary School
Dr. MLK Charter School for Science and Technology
Dwight D. Eisenhower Elementary School
Esperanza Charter School
Fannie C. Williams Elementary School
Gentilly Terrace School
Harriet Ross Tubman Elementary School
Henry C. Schaumberg Elementary
Hynes Charter School
James Johnson School
John Dibert School
Lake Forest Elementary Charter School
Live Oak Elementary
Lusher Charter School
Marquis de Lafayette Elementary School
Martin Behrman Charter School
Milestone/SABIS Academy of New Orleans
Nelson UNO Charter School

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