August 2020 – This summer we partnered with San Antonio ISD transportation and library teams to promote literacy through Book Buddies, a new program of The SAISD Foundation.
The Roll Into Reading mobile book tour stopped at 70 in-district meal distribution sites, delivering over 16,000 books to students. Thank you to the dozens of community volunteers who helped prep 5,600 bags to hand out to kids. This Express news article likened the tour to “Christmas in the summer” for families largely confined to home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Foundation also helped plan and organize a Celebrity Readers Series, consisting of both pre-recorded and live readings. Local celebrities including first lady Erika Prosper, KSAT anchor Steve Spriester and H-E-B Buddy read their favorite books to SAISD students, which can be viewed on our YouTube channel. In addition, astronaut and Sam Houston High School alumnus Bernard Harris and award-winning author Sandra Cisneros guided interactive sessions with SAISD students. Over 300 students logged on and asked questions after hearing excerpts from Hidden Figures and The House on Mango Street.
SAISD/ Book Buddies partnership will evolve this coming school year to include campus-based distributions before intercession breaks (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring Break, Summer). Learn more about the program on our web site.
Thank you to our partners, suppliers Better World Books & Literati, and our sponsors, The Texas Cavaliers and The Harvey Najim Charitable Trust, for supporting Book Buddies and allowing us to grow the program to support more students in San Antonio ISD.
