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WELCOME TO THE BFK VIRTUAL 5K WALK/RUN!

When you exercise your right to read and stand up for the same rights for others, you move the world closer to one that uplifts every child.

Now is the time speak out and stand up for young children everywhere as they take their first steps on their journey to literacy.

We're asking you to lace up your shoes, use your voice, and help provide children with access to the books that will help move them through life in ways big and small. Please join us in support of our students as we work to ensure their stories are heard, their early educational needs are met, and that the books filling the shelves inspire them and reflect our world.

 Ready to get involved? 

Aesops Fables by Jerry Pinkney Cover
chrysanthemum by kevin henkes cover
cloudy with a chance of meatballs cover

Need an idea for a team name? Consider naming your team after a book that meant a lot to you as a kid.

Ex: Team The Hungry Caterpillars

Head this way to register so you can participate, both as a fundraiser and a runner/walker, or to support a team!

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Jump to important FAQS for Participants and Donors

Want to have your photos featured on our website and Instagram? Send photos of you training for and/or participating in the virtual 5K to Samantha at ssalloway@booksforkids.org

Fundraiser Spotlights!

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Team: Boston Bookworms

Team Leader: Sam Salloway

Where are they participating: Greater Boston Area

​

What prompted you to first get involved with Books for Kids?

I have been a voracious reader since childhood and have always had a very strong awareness that without the books and literacy-promoting resources I had access to that my life could have ended up very differently. My parents really instilled in me that my education was the thing no one could ever take from me. I believe literacy is the key tool to agency in our current society, and every single person has a right to it. Early childhood gives us an incredible window of opportunity to set foundations that will help kids grow to be confident and capable in school and beyond. The way the brain changes in those first five years is so incredible you'd think it were magic if you didn't know any better, but it's all proven science. Children in early childhood and their families deserve our time and investment. All kids deserve our time and investment, our love and our care. That mission has kept me here as a staff member for 7 years.

 

Where are you running/walking your 5K, and does that place have special significance to you? 

I'll be walking my 5K in one of the many natural areas around greater Boston. I'll admit I haven't chosen which one yet! I was born in coastal Massachusetts but spent most of my life in New York and only just moved back here last year. Exploring my home state feels very special.

What are your favorite ways to stay active?

I love to go for long walks and go hiking (both highly meditative until the climb gets a little too steep...).

​

Do you regularly visit your local library, or do you have a favorite public library to visit?
I visit my public library all. the. time. It's the best. Though I do have a special soft spot for my old library in Sunnyside, Queens. It got me through some difficult times.

Your most frequented independent bookstore:

The Harvard Square Bookstore. They have an enormous nonfiction collection in addition to fiction, and a whole second level dedicated to used books. Let's just say I've really made their rewards program work for me.
 

An audiobook you loved:

Sadie ​by Courtney Summers. An incredibly difficult read, even as a YA novel. But the unique voice, how it plays with the form of podcasting within an audiobook, and the commentary on our fascination with missing girls and true crime in general all make it a "must read."

​

A book you're currently reading:

Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher.​

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A book on your "to read" list:

People from my Neighborhood, a collection of short stories by Hiromi​ Kawakami.

Peep that Boston Lobstah roll.

Where are our participants?

The joy of a virtual 5K walk/run is not only safety, but that people with a shared mission can join in from wherever they are!

NYC- 2 teams

Greater Boston- 1 team

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Your city?

Represent your city and join us now!

  • What is a "virtual" 5K walk/run?"
    The 5K has been an incredibly successful fundraiser for Books for Kids that participants have found both deeply fulfilling and fun! In 2020, rather than cancel due to COVID, we decided to do what we do best: adapt! That's how the virtual 5K came to be. How we fundraise may be changing, but the need is not. In fact, the need is only growing. A virtual 5K means you can participate from anywhere you feel safe to do so, be it your street, your local park, or even your treadmill! A 5K is equivalent to about 3.2 miles. All ages, genders, and abilities are able to participate, and you can also participate on your own or with a group, any day between october 21st and 23rd. . We also hope to create a similar feeling of community by using our Instagram (@booksforkidsorg) to share photos, stories, and victories from those who join in and those who show their support. So keep your eye out for updates!
  • How do I start my own team or fundraiser?
    Thank you for participating! We're so glad to have you join us. To create a team page or individual fundraiser, head to https://booksforkids.kindful.com/5kliteracywalkrun2022 and follow these steps: 1. Click the "create a team" button at the top of the cause page. 2. Sign in or register for a new account. 3. From here, you can customize your fundraising goal, your team name, page quote, and "about" language. This can all be changed at any time. NOTE: For those who want to fundraise as individuals: you do not have to fundraise as part of a team and you are welcome to simply put your name in the "team name" box. NOTE: For those who want to create a team: The page you are creating now will be the team home page and you will be the Team Leader. You will also have a PERSONAL fundraising page as a team member. 4. Next, you can choose your team's theme colors, profile picture, and header image/video. This can all be changed at any time. 5. From the next page, you can choose to spread the word via Twitter and Facebook, view your new page, or invite people to join your team if you intend to make this a team effort. If you invite people from this page, you can customize your email language and choose which email addresses you would like to send to. 6. When you view your page, you will first see the "editor" version of your Team Page where you can make changes and adjust settings. If you would like to view the public version of your Team Page, click the "Public Team Page" button. Here are some settings you may wish to adjust from the editor page: - Team Name - Team Quote - Team About - Profile Photo - Profile Header Image/Video 7. Under "Edit Team Info" you can adjust: - Your goal - Whether you would like to have the ability to invite others to join your team or fundraise as an individual - Your theme colors NOTE: If you are fundraising as part of a team, team goals are divided equally among all team members. They cannot create their own individual goals. 8. If your intent is to create a team and you are a Team Leader, you should also customize your Personal Page. Your team members will be able to customize their Personal Pages but will not be able to edit the team page.
  • How do I invite others to join my team?
    You can invite others during or after the creation of your team page. If you invite others after you create your page, your will see the option "Invite Team Member" on the upper right hand side of your fundraising page's editor screen. You can only invite members from this screen one at a time.
  • I've been invited to join a team! What do I do?
    We're so excited to have you with us! Follow the prompts to sign in or sign up for a new account. You'll then be brought to your team's page. On the upper right hand side you will see a link for "Personal Page" which is where you can customize the following: - Your name - Your profile photo - Your about and quote areas To spread the word and ask for donations, share the link to either your personal Public Page or your Public Team Page! If you share the team page and someone clicks "donate now," they will have the option to choose which team member to credit with their gift. If you share your personal Public Page, credit will automatically go to you. NOTE: You cannot customize your own fundraising goal. The team's goal is split between all members. NOTE: Please do not share the "general donation" link on the general cause page (https://booksforkids.kindful.com/5kliteracywalkrun2022) as it will not credit your team or personal fundraiser!
  • How do people donate to my fundraiser?
    You are encouraged to share the direct link to your Personal Fundraising Page or Team Page with potential donors. You can find this link in the url box at the top of your browser when you are on your public fundraising page. It will look like this: https://www.booksforkids.kindful.com/5kliteracywalkrun/your-team-name. When people give directly through your fundraising page, we can be sure you get all the credit you're due and that it counts toward your fundraising goal. NOTE: When you have more than one team member, donors can pick which team member to credit their gift to. If you are fundraising as an individual or do not yet have more than yourself on your team, this option will not be present and the credit will automatically go to you. NOTE: Please do not share the "general donation" link on the general cause page (https://booksforkids.kindful.com/5kliteracywalkrun2022) as it will not credit your team or personal fundraiser!
  • Do I have to pay to participate or reach a minimum fundraising amount?
    No! It is free to participate in this year's 5K walk/run. When you sign up as a participant or fundraiser, the default fundraising goal is set to $500. You can change this at anytime through your page settings, and raising is always encouraged!
  • Is this 5K competitive?
    Overall, this year's 5K does not have a competition element. That said, for those who are motivated by a little competition, participants are encouraged to send us their completion times for their 5K for us to share and shout out finishers!
  • How will the money I raise be used?
    Your gift will go so incredibly far toward helping us support our youngest readers as we help them develop their emergent literacy skills. Books for Kids promotes literacy among preschool-aged children in under-resourced communities. We create libraries and implement literacy programs in order to help children develop the critical early literacy and social-emotional skills they need to be successful in kindergarten and beyond. We imagine a nation where every child from birth to Kindergarten is surrounded by books, has an adult who reads with them every day, and has access to high-quality early education that provides a foundation for a lifelong love of reading and learning. Your support helps bring this vision closer to reality. All donations to the Books for Kids Virtual 5K Walk/Run are 100% tax deductible.
  • How do I spread the word about my fundraiser?
    On each team page there are social share buttons you can use to spread the word on Twitter and Facebook. It populates a prewritten post that you can customize. It's always effective for your loved ones, friends, and colleagues to hear from you directly about your participation and why you support this cause. As much as they care about supporting emergent literacy among all children, they care about YOU. So reach out from the heart, whether in a phone call, email, social post, or (safely) in person, and let them know why reaching your goal is so important to you. Check back on this page soon, as we'll have a social media kit with photos for Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to help out!
  • What is a "virtual" 5K walk/run?"
    The 5K has been an incredibly successful fundraiser for Books for Kids that participants have found both deeply fulfilling and fun! In 2020, rather than cancel due to COVID, we decided to do what we do best: adapt! That's how the virtual 5K came to be. How we fundraise may be changing, but the need is not. In fact, the need is only growing. A virtual 5K means you can participate from anywhere you feel safe to do so, be it your street, your local park, or even your treadmill! A 5K is equivalent to about 3.2 miles. All ages, genders, and abilities are able to participate, and you can also participate on your own or with a group, any day between october 21st and 23rd. . We also hope to create a similar feeling of community by using our Instagram (@booksforkidsorg) to share photos, stories, and victories from those who join in and those who show their support. So keep your eye out for updates!
  • How do I start my own team or fundraiser?
    Thank you for participating! We're so glad to have you join us. To create a team page or individual fundraiser, head to https://booksforkids.kindful.com/5kliteracywalkrun2022 and follow these steps: 1. Click the "create a team" button at the top of the cause page. 2. Sign in or register for a new account. 3. From here, you can customize your fundraising goal, your team name, page quote, and "about" language. This can all be changed at any time. NOTE: For those who want to fundraise as individuals: you do not have to fundraise as part of a team and you are welcome to simply put your name in the "team name" box. NOTE: For those who want to create a team: The page you are creating now will be the team home page and you will be the Team Leader. You will also have a PERSONAL fundraising page as a team member. 4. Next, you can choose your team's theme colors, profile picture, and header image/video. This can all be changed at any time. 5. From the next page, you can choose to spread the word via Twitter and Facebook, view your new page, or invite people to join your team if you intend to make this a team effort. If you invite people from this page, you can customize your email language and choose which email addresses you would like to send to. 6. When you view your page, you will first see the "editor" version of your Team Page where you can make changes and adjust settings. If you would like to view the public version of your Team Page, click the "Public Team Page" button. Here are some settings you may wish to adjust from the editor page: - Team Name - Team Quote - Team About - Profile Photo - Profile Header Image/Video 7. Under "Edit Team Info" you can adjust: - Your goal - Whether you would like to have the ability to invite others to join your team or fundraise as an individual - Your theme colors NOTE: If you are fundraising as part of a team, team goals are divided equally among all team members. They cannot create their own individual goals. 8. If your intent is to create a team and you are a Team Leader, you should also customize your Personal Page. Your team members will be able to customize their Personal Pages but will not be able to edit the team page.
  • How do I invite others to join my team?
    You can invite others during or after the creation of your team page. If you invite others after you create your page, your will see the option "Invite Team Member" on the upper right hand side of your fundraising page's editor screen. You can only invite members from this screen one at a time.
  • I've been invited to join a team! What do I do?
    We're so excited to have you with us! Follow the prompts to sign in or sign up for a new account. You'll then be brought to your team's page. On the upper right hand side you will see a link for "Personal Page" which is where you can customize the following: - Your name - Your profile photo - Your about and quote areas To spread the word and ask for donations, share the link to either your personal Public Page or your Public Team Page! If you share the team page and someone clicks "donate now," they will have the option to choose which team member to credit with their gift. If you share your personal Public Page, credit will automatically go to you. NOTE: You cannot customize your own fundraising goal. The team's goal is split between all members. NOTE: Please do not share the "general donation" link on the general cause page (https://booksforkids.kindful.com/5kliteracywalkrun2022) as it will not credit your team or personal fundraiser!
  • How do people donate to my fundraiser?
    You are encouraged to share the direct link to your Personal Fundraising Page or Team Page with potential donors. You can find this link in the url box at the top of your browser when you are on your public fundraising page. It will look like this: https://www.booksforkids.kindful.com/5kliteracywalkrun/your-team-name. When people give directly through your fundraising page, we can be sure you get all the credit you're due and that it counts toward your fundraising goal. NOTE: When you have more than one team member, donors can pick which team member to credit their gift to. If you are fundraising as an individual or do not yet have more than yourself on your team, this option will not be present and the credit will automatically go to you. NOTE: Please do not share the "general donation" link on the general cause page (https://booksforkids.kindful.com/5kliteracywalkrun2022) as it will not credit your team or personal fundraiser!
  • Do I have to pay to participate or reach a minimum fundraising amount?
    No! It is free to participate in this year's 5K walk/run. When you sign up as a participant or fundraiser, the default fundraising goal is set to $500. You can change this at anytime through your page settings, and raising is always encouraged!
  • Is this 5K competitive?
    Overall, this year's 5K does not have a competition element. That said, for those who are motivated by a little competition, participants are encouraged to send us their completion times for their 5K for us to share and shout out finishers!
  • How will the money I raise be used?
    Your gift will go so incredibly far toward helping us support our youngest readers as we help them develop their emergent literacy skills. Books for Kids promotes literacy among preschool-aged children in under-resourced communities. We create libraries and implement literacy programs in order to help children develop the critical early literacy and social-emotional skills they need to be successful in kindergarten and beyond. We imagine a nation where every child from birth to Kindergarten is surrounded by books, has an adult who reads with them every day, and has access to high-quality early education that provides a foundation for a lifelong love of reading and learning. Your support helps bring this vision closer to reality. All donations to the Books for Kids Virtual 5K Walk/Run are 100% tax deductible.
  • How do I spread the word about my fundraiser?
    On each team page there are social share buttons you can use to spread the word on Twitter and Facebook. It populates a prewritten post that you can customize. It's always effective for your loved ones, friends, and colleagues to hear from you directly about your participation and why you support this cause. As much as they care about supporting emergent literacy among all children, they care about YOU. So reach out from the heart, whether in a phone call, email, social post, or (safely) in person, and let them know why reaching your goal is so important to you. Check back on this page soon, as we'll have a social media kit with photos for Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to help out!
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