Henry Street Settlement Participates in World Book Night Launch Event, April 22
By Chelsea Jupin
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The literati and the “givearati” came together at the New York Public Library on Tuesday, April 22, at the public launch of World Book Night America 2014, an annual campaign to get printed books to those without means or access.
David Garza, Executive Director of Henry Street Settlement – a partner in the initiative — was among the speakers at the launch, joining such esteemed authors as Garrison Keillor, Malcolm Gladwell, Tobias Wolff, Esmerelda Santiago, Walter Dean Myers, Victoria Bond, and T.R. Simon.
On Wednesday, April 23, Henry Street is celebrating World Book Night by joining the nearly 29,000 volunteer book givers who will be distributing thousands of new books.
“Henry Street knows a little something about giving,” Garza told the packed audience. “When this opportunity came up to add a little something extra to what we do on a daily basis, we absolutely jumped to the call.”
Henry Street Settlement is distributing books to elderly clients of the Good Companions Senior Center, the Senior Companion Program and to Meals on Wheels recipients. “Instead of dinner and a movie, you get dinner and a book,” said Garza.
The authors and volunteers at the launch spoke to the importance of books and reading in their lives, particularly their first experiences with obtaining free books at their local libraries. Inspired by their words, David Garza read an original poem to honor World Book Night.
Henry Street Settlement and World Book Night,
My staff inquired,
So pen to paper I was inspired.
We gave, and we’ll give, and we’ll never get tired.
We feed and we shelter, and we open doors,
And tomorrow night, we’ll do a little more.
Thousands of books to those in need,
The gift of a book to own and to read.
So open your mind, your hearts, and your eyes,
And thank you, World Book Night, for changing lives.
In its third year in the U.S., World Book Night takes place on April 23, 2014, celebrating the 450th birthday of William Shakespeare.
