WHAT IS THE WISCONSIN CONNECTION TO BOOKS FOR THE WORLD?
The roots of the Wisconsin initiative go back to 2005 with a pilot project operated out of an individual's home. Based on the success of that effort, the project was adopted by the Madison Breakfast Rotary Club in 2006.
Books are collected from schools, libraries, and individuals and brought to a collection center in Madison where they are sorted, boxed, palletized and shrink-wrapped before being loaded onto a semi-trailer and shipped to Houston. Sorting and shipping, which is done on a regular basis, is made avilable to club members, Rotaract clubs, inbound Rotary students, community volunteers, schools, and youth service groups.
Through October, 2012, 600 tons of books have been shipped to Houston. According to the Books for the World staff, these books have a value of approximately $15 million dollars. The Wisconsin Books for the World project has been funded by Rotary District and Rotary International Foundation grants, grants from local foundations, as well as corporate and individual donations.
A) Wisconsin State Journal
B) Isthmus - Daily page
C) Books for the World Brochure
D) Video of Loading a Semi-Truck; September 2009
E) Instructional Video for Volunteers