Governors Early Literacy Foundation

Programs: In fulfillment of its mission from january 1, 2016 - december 31, 2016, the gbbf mailed 3,078,653 high quality, age-appropriate imagination library books to enrolled children statewide. During this period, tennessee's imagination library program newly enrolled over 79,107 children and graduated 56,084 children, as they reached the maximum participation age of five (5) years. All 95 tennessee counties continued to maintain their il county programs through child enrollment, community engagement, and local fundraising to cover their 50% book and mailing cost commitment of about $1. 07 per book. The gbbf, now in its fourteenth consecutive year of service, continued to provide a grant equaling the remaining 50% of the cost of these imagination library (il) books for each county. The primary source of the governor's books from birth foundation statewide program grant is derived from its state-approved annual grant. It is notable that over the past four years, from september, 2013 through june, 2017, the statewide program has experienced continued monthly growth equal to an overall increase of 30% in the number of children receiving books. As a result, we continue to fundraise privately on behalf of individual counties and to build capacity for our statewide program's continued growth. Based upon our mission-driven focus to diversify enrollment methods in order to increase statewide enrollment, coupled with our targeted efforts to enroll children as newborns, we expect this growth pattern to continue. The governor's books from birth foundation is dedicated to building a foundation for reading and learning through books for tennessee's children. Our long-term vision is to make a significant impact in helping tennessee's children read at proficient levels by 4th grade.