OUR MISSION
Books In Homes USA launched with the driving purpose to end “booklessness” and make a profound impact on the trajectories of our most vulnerable members, children living in under resourced communities, by inspiring a love of reading and establishing a foundation of success. By forging partnerships with individuals, corporations, and foundations, we afford children opportunities to build their very own home libraries with brand-new books that they’ve selected to own and enjoy.
OUR HISTORY
Books In Homes USA is modeled after Duffy Books In Homes New Zealand. Alan Duff, a New Zealand author identifying that failures in adult life often stem from childhoods spent in bookless homes, created Duffy Books In Homes New Zealand in 1994 and Books In Homes Australia in 2001. After visiting New Zealand during 2005 as part of his doctoral studies through the University of Pennsylvania, Books In Homes USA’s inaugural executive director, Dr. Richard E. Quest, brought the Duffy Books In Homes program to the USA. In 2008, “Duffy Books In Homes USA” launched organizational efforts and received 501(c)(3) approval. Today, the organization is known as “Books In Homes USA”. Several highlights include: the International American Chamber of Commerce Award for International Education Partnerships with Mainfreight (2011); its 300,000th book milestone and expansion to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2015); half-millionth book milestone (2017). Books In Homes USA has reached 311,763 kids, with 759,470 free brand-new high-quality books in 150 locations across New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia, and California.
