Third Annual Hope & Dream Astor Home for Children Book Drive

Welcome to the 3rd Annual Astor Home for Children Hope & Dream Book Drive!

Dear Friends and Family,

(For returning supporters of our annual book drive, we once again rely on your generous contributions as the educational needs of these special children become increasingly critical each year. If you are new to the Astor Book Drive, please read our fundraiser story and, through your donation, help us empower a child through literacy, hope, and dreams.)

I am reaching out to you today with an opportunity to make a significant impact on the lives of young children in our communities. Our book fundraiser is for the children of Astor Home for Children in Rhinebeck, NY, and we would be honored if you could join us in supporting this worthy cause.

As you may know, children's books play a vital role in shaping young minds, fostering imagination, and promoting literacy skills. Unfortunately, many children do not have access to a diverse range of books due to financial and circumstantial constraints. Our fundraiser aims to bridge this gap and provide these children with the opportunity to discover the joy of reading.

By making a donation to our children's book fundraiser, you will be contributing to the enrichment of countless young lives.

As many of you know, several years ago I became a New York State certified foster and adoption parent. Since then, I've worked with various agencies as a foster mother, specifically with the Astor Home For Children in Rhinebeck, NY.

The children who reside at the Astor Home (at any given point in time, at least 50 children are housed there – some for months, many for years) are there as a last resort. These children have witnessed or faced life-threatening events that have impacted them physically, emotionally, and mentally, forcing their removal from their own homes. I cannot adequately describe the theft of personal security that these young children have experienced. They have also been robbed of their childhood... but not of their innocence.

It is this innocence that I wish to preserve, and I hope to have your help in achieving this through this book fundraiser. Hope is key in this book drive that I've coordinated with my niece, Cristina Lam – a new mother herself to two small boys, Sebastian and Lorenzo. Cristina revels in the quiet joy of reading to her boys as they also learn to read for themselves. She's witnessed the smiles on Bash's (Sebastian!) face as he reads about becoming a doctor, astronaut, firefighter, or police officer – anything he wants to be when he grows up. Enzo (Lorenzo), his baby brother, follows in his older brother's footsteps in exploring our world through books. It is with profound hope that Cristina envisions a wide choice of careers for her boys, as Bash and Enzo learn that they can achieve and thrive through a strong foundation in literacy.

It is that same hope – to not let the Astor Home children feel confined or defined by their current living situation – that propels me to help populate the very small on-site Astor Home "library." When I first became involved with Astor Home in 2020, this library consisted of a wooden bookshelf holding less than 20 books. Each year since, I've collaborated with Cristina through her Brand Partner position with PaperPie in selecting and purchasing new books, book sets, and age-appropriate puzzles for the children at Astor Home.

This year, I'd like to expand our Astor Home library building program with your help. As described by Dr. Ben Carson, former Chief of Pediatric Surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, who was raised in abject poverty and harrowing living conditions, he found his way out of these horrific circumstances through reading. Dr. Carson confirms the importance of literacy in his book, Gifted Hands, an autobiography reflective of how his life changed when he felt hopeful of a world outside of his current situation through reading and education.

We firmly believe that every child deserves the chance to explore the limitless possibilities that lie within the pages of books. To this end, Cristina and I have carefully curated a unique selection of children's books and educational materials that we wish to gift to the children residing at Astor Home. However, we cannot achieve this vision without the generosity and support of compassionate individuals like you.

Please consider making a contribution to our children's book fundraiser through this funding platform. No amount is too small, and every donation will make a meaningful impact on the lives of children who otherwise might not have the opportunity to learn and hope through reading.

Additionally, please share this opportunity with your friends, family, and colleagues who may also be interested in supporting our cause. Together, we can create a ripple effect to empower future generations through the magic of storytelling.

Thank you in advance for your kindness and consideration. Your donation will bring joy, knowledge, and inspiration to the young minds that most need this support.

Please feel absolutely welcome to contact us with any questions you may have.

Our best to you and yours,

Lina and Cristina