Providing Summer Reading Books for Children in Kindergarten to 8th Grade

Our Author in Hand program goal is to encourage reading by putting one enrichment book in every student's hand each spring. The program was started in 1992, supplying Town of East Hampton elementary and middle public school students with books. In 2009, Bridgehampton, Wainscott, and Sagaponack schools were added. In the past few years, Montauk and Springs schools were also included in this program.

The foundation will be supplying more than 2,500 students with books this coming school year with the average purchase price between six and eight dollars. The Scholastic Book Company has a special deal for us where we buy one book and get a book for free. We are hoping to raise $8,500 to cover the balance of the cost of the books.

In the past, we have had many generous local merchants and civic groups donate the funds to provide the students with a book. These donors have helped us purchase thousands of books. Since we have expanded to include more students, we need to appropriate more funds to make this project a success. Last year, we were not able to collect enough donations to support the entire program. We hope this project will be one you will be willing to support.