We feel we’re not alone when we look at the calendar and exclaim: How is it December already?! At the TBF office, we are just finally digging out from Festival wrap up — packing away supplies, signing checks to our valued vendors and security officers who keep everyone at the Fest safe, and writing thank you notes — LOTS of thank you notes — to express our gratitude to everyone who helped make our annual celebration of books and community so meaningful this year.
Some highlights of the impact TBF made this year:
We were thrilled to bring back a fully in-person Festival Weekend in all its glory — completely free and open to the public. We brought 300+ authors and their books to tens of thousands of attendees of all ages and the joy was palpable. Seen and heard throughout the Festival: laughter, thought-provoking conversations, serendipitous running into friends, and so much positive book-buying energy to support authors, booksellers and TBF.
We granted $101,000 in collection enhancement grants to 42 public libraries across Texas.
Through our Reading Rock Stars program, we gave more than 13,000 books and brought inspirational award-winning authors to students in Title I elementary schools in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and the Rio Grande Valley.
Real Reads, our outreach program focused on serving middle and high school students, brought 5 renowned authors and almost 600 books to students in Austin and Dallas this year through partnerships with Breakthrough Central Texas, Somos Escritoras, Austin Community College’s Ascender program, and Skyline High School.
In this season of giving, if you’re thinking of tax-deductible charitable gifts you’d like to make before the end of the year, I hope that TBF is high on the list of nonprofits whose missions you support.
With a donation of $100 or more, you’ll become a Festival Friend and receive perks for the 2023 Festival.