Hi, I am Jack Venezia, a member of Boy Scout Troop 526 in Glendale, Arizona. I have been in scouting since kindergarten, and I am now at the final milestone: the Eagle Project.

My Eagle Project will take place at A New Leaf Domestic Violence Shelter in Glendale, Arizona. This shelter serves people during their most difficult times so my hope is that the libraries and benches will provide nice, quiet sanctuaries and great books to inspire and lift spirits.

I will build two free libraries with attached benches for children and their families to access books and a place to read during their time at the shelter. I plan to make one in the shelter's front lawn and the other in the shelter's backyard. I will also run a book drive to ensure the families will have books to rotate, share, and replace if needed.

I have been an avid reader since elementary school, and I am passionate about getting books into children's hands. I feel lucky to have been surrounded by books since I was a baby, and I want this opportunity for the families that seek shelter at A New Leaf.

To make my vision a reality, I will need to secure funds to purchase not only books but also the supplies needed to build and install the libraries and benches.

If you would like to support me on this journey, I would greatly appreciate it. If I have surpassed my financial goal, I will donate the remaining proceeds to A New Leaf Shelter for its use as it sees fit.

Thank you for supporting me on my scouting journey. I look forward to sharing my project with you as soon as it is complete.

Sincerely,

Jack Venezia

Life Scout Troop 526