Get the latest delivered to your inbox
Privacy Policy

Now Reading

First Book's Kyle Zimmer Named Social Entrepreneur of the Year in the United States by Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship

First Book's Kyle Zimmer Named Social Entrepreneur of the Year in the United States by Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship

Published 11-20-06

Submitted by First Book

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 20, 2006 -- Kyle Zimmer, president and co-founder of First Book®, was named Social Entrepreneur of the Year in the United States by the Geneva, Swiss-based Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. First Book is an international nonprofit that gives children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books.

The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship provides unparalleled platforms at the country, regional and global levels that highlight social entrepreneurship as a key element to advance societies and address social problems in an innovative and effective manner. The Foundation conducts an annual search for leading social entrepreneurs around the world and selects one from each of the countries identified to join the Foundation's global network.

"It is a wonderful honor to have been selected by the Schwab Foundation," said Zimmer. "First Book is becoming a global resource providing vital books and educational materials for children in need and recognition by such an extraordinary institution will enable us to take our vision to new levels."

The literacy crisis in the U.S. is alarming. While research reveals that the critical factor correlating with whether a child becomes a reader is access to reading materials, there are tremendous barriers to that access. A recent study indicates that there is access to just one book for every 300 children living in low-income neighborhoods, compared to 13 books for every one child in middle-income neighborhoods.

In addition, 80 percent of the preschool and after-school programs that serve disadvantaged children have no age-appropriate books for their programs.

First Book's unique model provides innovative solutions for reaching these children and ending illiteracy. First Book reaches existing preschool and after-school programs through a carefully designed set of enterprises that encompass local networks in hundreds of communities, the First Book National Book Bank, and the First Book Marketplace.

Zimmer and First Book were selected by the Schwab Foundation, in part, because of their newest venture, the First Book Marketplace, a web-based enterprise that sells high quality new children's books to programs serving disadvantaged children at prices well below any other options. The Marketplace is a powerful, new online global community that gives previously marginalized programs real economic and social strength. Through the Marketplace, the programs participate in title selection and advance innovative literacy opportunities for the children they serve. The First Book Marketplace will revolutionize the publishing industry while dramatically expanding the diversity of resources available to the world's most disadvantaged children.

"If ever there was a 'base of the pyramid' opportunity, it is here. And Kyle and her colleagues are going for it," noted Pamela Hartigan, Managing Director of the Schwab Foundation. "By setting up the 'First Book Marketplace' (FBMP), First Book is able to meet the need for affordable high quality books by offering a broad selection of high quality, relevant children's books in unlimited quantities at a price level that is not available to programs serving disadvantaged children."

"First Book has consistently been a leader in innovation for the social sector," said Lisa Holton, President, Children's Books and Book Fairs, Scholastic. "The First Book Marketplace is a strong and vibrant business model that expands the market for children's books while addressing a grave social problem."

In addition to the Schwab Foundation recognition, Fast Company and the Monitor Group announced that they have awarded First Book their Social Capitalist Award for the fourth straight year. This award recognizes social sector leaders for using entrepreneurial genius to solve global issues. First Book received the award previously in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

About First Book

First Book is an international nonprofit organization with a single mission: to give children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books. Through hundreds of local Advisory Boards, the First Book National Book Bank, and the First Book Marketplace, the organization provides an ongoing supply of new books to children participating in community-based mentoring, tutoring, and family literacy programs. First Book has provided more than 46 million new books to children in need in thousands of communities nationwide. For more information about First Book, please visit www.FirstBook.org or call 866-393-1222.

About The Schwab Foundation

The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship was started by Klaus Schwab, Founder of the World Economic Forum, and his wife, Hilde in 2000. The Foundation has been searching for the world's leading social entrepreneurs, who implement innovative and pragmatic solutions to social problems by tackling the root causes and creating a social transformation.

The current network of the Foundation spans 105 social entrepreneurs and their organizations from more than 40 countries. Further information on the social entrepreneurs can be found at http://www.schwabfound.org

First Book logo

First Book

First Book

More from First Book

Join today and get the latest delivered to your inbox