A Spartanburg teenager is looking to expand the book club she
began three years ago.
Emily Conrad, 15, has her Need to Read Book Club enrolled in a contest that
could provide $50,000 toward developing the organization.
Conrad started
the club when she was 12.
"At first it was just a book club for me and
my friends to get together and talk about books," Conrad said. "Then it became
something more."
The club held fundraisers and made book donations,
including one to the soup kitchen at Second Presbyterian Church.
Nationwide aspirations
Lou Landrum, director of the
soup kitchen, suggested that Conrad extend the club nationwide, and she liked
the idea. Need to Read Book Clubs are based at Whitlock Junior High School,
Holly Springs-Motlow Elementary School and Mabry Middle School, and a chapter is
about to start at the Spartanburg Children Shelter. The club is asking for
volunteers and donations for its club at Carver Junior High School.
"I've
seen her come in with a vision and mature and introduce that club to other
schools," Landrum said. "When I see how beneficial it's been to have the Need to
Read Book Club here, I see that it needs to be all over the United
States."
Landrum said working with Conrad has led the soup kitchen to set
up a spot where volunteers can read to visiting children. It's also helped some
parents improve their reading skills, as well.
The contest Conrad entered
is through Parade magazine's "Giving Challenge," and it involves getting $10
donations. The eight organizations with the most $10 donations will each receive
$50,000. The top 100 organizations will receive $1,000.
How you
can help
Conrad has a link to the contest from her Web site,
www.needtoreadbookclub.org. The deadline to make a donation is Thursday.
Conrad said the club has two goals. One is to make reading fun for kids
and teens. The clubs have guest speakers, and members make crafts and play
games. The group also promotes volunteering, and members are given incentives to
read through a program that allows them to earn money to buy books for at-risk
kids.
The club is also partnering with the Spartanburg Repertory Company
to take at least 100 children to their first opera in February. Each child going
to the opera will receive a book about classical music and composers. It costs
$15 to sponsor a child. Donations can be made through the club's Web site or by
mail at Need to Read Book Club, P.O. Box 18144, Spartanburg, SC 29318
