DIBS for Kids 2021 Annual Report

DIBS FOR KIDS

2021 ANNUAL REPORT

We Love Books, Yes We Do!

We Do Dedicate This Annual Report to: Our Mission DIBS for Kids is on a Mission to help schools provide every child with access to powerful in-home reading experiences, every school night.

And Our Vision We envision a future where classrooms, schools, and entire districts are supported to make daily in-home reading accessible and exciting for all students.

Dear Supporters, Throughout my childhood, I was that kid in a corner or huddled under my bed covers with a flashlight, reading any book I could get my hands on – books borrowed from libraries, teachers, friends, and family. Books transported me to new and different worlds, away from that small farm in western Nebraska and introduced me to people and places I would never have encountered otherwise. Books were also my key to higher education, to being the first person in my family to graduate college and then pursue my graduate degrees.

I see that child I once was in the mission and vision of DIBS for Kids, to help schools provide every child with access to powerful in-home reading experiences, every school night so that our vision of a future where classrooms, schools, and entire school districts are supported to make daily in-home reading accessible and exciting for all students could become a reality.

It is a pivotal time to be the new Executive Director of DIBS for Kids. Our mission has always been important; now, with the knowledge of the pandemic-related learning loss, our mission is urgent and critical. We know access to a multitude of books, with diverse topics and characters, with the ability for a student to select the book they want to read, sparks the lifelong benefits of reading. On average, DIBS students take home over 80 books each year; over 750,000 books have been taken home to read since 2012.

As DIBS prepares to serve over 250 classrooms in three states in 2022-2023, we are propelled forward by the continuing need for children to have consistent access to books at their reading level. Thanks to your support, over 4,500 children have access to over 1,000 books a year.

All those books in my childhood have led to the privilege of leading DIBS for Kids. As I visit classrooms, I see children who are curious, insightful, and voracious collectors of information. All they need are the books to help find their way.

Your support is instrumental in providing the books that fuel an infinite number of dreams – dreams from being a first-generation college graduate and inventing the next great technology to exploring our universe or dinosaur fossils. Thank you for supporting the mission of DIBS and the dreams of thousands of students!

Thank You for Your Support to Do What We Do,

Angie Miller, J.D. Executive Director 2

We Do Know Children Need Nightly Reading Opportunities Over 60% of low-income children do not have a single age-appropriate book at home.

However, research tells us books at home provide more language and literacy opportunities, which are key to reading proficiency. DIBS for Kids offers students the opportunity to increase their learning through at-home reading practice. Children graduate high school at higher rates, unlocking higher education, and better economic and health outcomes.

Most importantly – reading is the basis for igniting dreams. Every child deserves the opportunity to dream about their future and to do that, every child needs exposure to, and knowledge of, everything the world can offer.

LifeLong impact of reading Proficiency on children • Students who were not proficient in reading by the end of third grade were four times more likely to drop out of high school than proficient readers.

DROPOUT RATES ARE

4X

HIGHER FOR STUDENTS

WHO WERE NOT PROFICIENT READERS IN THIRD GRADE

• 88 percent of students who failed to earn a high school diploma were struggling readers in third grade.

• Graduating high school is important for better overall health. Individuals who do not graduate high school report suffering from at least one chronic health condition, like asthma, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, hepatitis, or stomach ulcers.

88%

OF STUDENTS WHO STRUGGLED WITH READING IN THIRD GRADE DID NOT GRADUATE

nebraska third grade students at reading proficiency 80% 70% 60%

64% 56%

50%

59%

50% 41%

40%

40%

31%

30%

31%

27%

20%

32%

34%

31% 28%

20%

10% 0% All

2019

white

2021

hispanic/ latino

black

native american

free reduced lunch eligible

english language learners

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What We Do Best: Providing Access to Books DIBS for Kids leverages the best of what classroom, school, public libraries, and book giveaways have to offer – access to books – but without the barriers of time, transport, finances, limited quantities, and potentially limited diversity, interests, and types of literature.

DIBS for Kids provides over 1,000 age-appropriate, culturally-representative, leveled books that students can self-select using our custom software in a place they visit every weekday– their classroom.

We excel at providing nightly reading opportunities to thousands of students in Omaha and beyond.

number of students served (estimated)

Students Served 4,466

5,000

3,498 3,498

4,000

2,596

3,000 2,000

550

1,000

1,188

0

2016-2017

2017-2018

2018-2019

2019-2020

2020-2021

(Pandemic year)

2021-2022

school year

Schools Served 24

number of schools served

25

Books Sent Home

books taken home

200,000

139,467

150,000

50,000

50,219 10,964

0

2016-2017

2017-2018

2018-2019 school year

4

204,196

171,661

88,061

100,000

15

2019-2020

2020-2021

(Pandemic year)

2021-2022

19

11

10 5 0

250,000

19

20

3 2016-2017

5 2017-2018

2018-2019

2019-2020

school year

2020-2021

(Pandemic year)

2021-2022

We Do Reach Young Readers Every Day! In 2021, DIBS for Kids reached more students and delivered more diversity in books.

The program numbers speak for themselves!

Program Insights • Number of classrooms served: 215 181 in 18 OPS elementary schools

LOCATED IN

LOCATED IN

215

18

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

CLASSROOMS

• Number of students reached: 4,466 • Total Books in Inventory: over 42,000 • A verage number of books taken home per student each year: 80 • Percent of OPS students served eligible for free or reduced lunch: 78% • Percent of OPS students served who are Black, Hispanic, Native American/Indigenous, or two or more races: 81%

4,466

STUDENTS REACHED

788,924 BOOKS SENT HOME 2012 – 2022

80

BOOKS A STUDENT TAKES HOME PER YEAR

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We Do Make an Impact!

After an unprecedented experience with the COVID-19 pandemic, we have continued to grow into more classrooms, reach more students, and make improvements in efficiency.

The 2021-2022 school year marked our biggest year of classroom growth so far! In total, we successfully and safely added 50 DIBS classrooms in 18 OPS buildings and five other schools in Nebraska, Iowa, and Michigan.

Although these expansions were on pause for a year due to online learning, in August of 2021 we excitedly and confidently launched five new OPS schools, including Jefferson, Jackson, Franklin, Mount View, and Western Hills. We also added three classrooms at Wayne Elementary, in Wayne, Nebraska.

DIBS also began the first year of our three-year program evaluations to determine the impact that nightly, in-home reading has on student reading proficiency in Kindergarten to third grade students. We are excited for the results of this first portion of the evaluation, which are due in summer of 2022.

Part of why our program is successful and easy both for students and teachers is because of our custom-built, web-based software, first used in 2015. In 2021-2022, we realized it was time to make additional investments in the software. We partnered with Volano Software, creating a more modern look that is more intuitive for students, teachers, and DIBS staff, improved reporting abilities, and assurance of compatibility with all internet enabled devices and operating systems. Not only does this improve the experience for our current users, it allows DIBS to continue to sustainably grow to serve more children and communities.

DIBS for Kids has a lot to be proud of this year, from program achievements, to growth and expansion goals, to relationship building in the community. Thank you for supporting us, our schools, our families, and our students!

Marie Kovar, Ed.S. Director of School Support

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We Do Believe in Students, Parents, and Teachers!

They speak for themselves and about the unique learning experience and support DIBS for Kids provides them! Our goal is to make reading fun and engaging for each student while extending a simple solution for teachers and parents.

“I love DIBS because I can read a new book every night. I get bored with the ones at home because I’ve read them all.”

“Do you think reading your DIBS for Kids Book makes you a better reader? Yes or No?” “It does because it helps you keep learning on all of the words!”

- First Grade Student

- Third Grade Student

“The good thing is that even if you don’t have a background teaching or working with kids, you know exactly what to do.”

- Parent

“I have seen firsthand how this program has increased literacy skills in the classroom and a love for reading. I have also seen this program bring families together at home with reading.”

- Teacher

“DIBS For Kids thank you!

We have LOVED how there has been diversity in the characters as well as content from educational to fun fiction. As a parent of multi-racial kids attending a diverse school, this is very much appreciated.”

- Parent

77

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We Do Take Investments in Our Program to Heart!

We appreciate every contribution that allows us to reach young readers, so we intend to use that money wisely. In 2021, we faced extraordinary challenges, but we persevered and provided books while students were in school.

Total expense: $284,868 Fundraising $60,043 DIBs programming $184,642

Administration & management $40,183

Total Revenue: $363,597 Other Contributions $41,467 Government COVID-related funding $75,630

Grants $246,500

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We Do Value the Generosity of Our Donors!

In a time when help was needed to ensure children had access to books, the following individuals, foundations, and organizations said books are essential to learning – about ourselves, about others, about the world, and about who we can become. Thank you for your support of DIBS for Kids, and most importantly, the kids themselves.

Foundations Aflac Foundation

Walmart

Christine Montez

AmazonSmile

Weitz Family Foundation

Becky and Matt Nelson

Amy L. Scott Foundation

William and Ruth Scott Foundation

Rosann Nichols

Anonymous (2) Baer Foundation Community Services Fund of Nebraska

Individuals and Organizations

Costco Wholesale

Kristin and Scott Brown

Kiewit Companies Foundation

Kelli and Scott Cavey

Kroger Kum & Go Foundation Omaha Community Foundation Snow-Redfern Foundation TAGG The Benevity Community Impact Fund

Michael Crabb William C. Dana Jan Egermayer A.J. and L.D. Fangman Amy Folker Laura Gorynski Mary Sue Grossman

The Lozier Foundation

Phillip Haussler

The Sherwood Foundation

Wesley Jones

The Shikhar and Kristin Saxena Foundation

Katherine and Skip Joyce

The Steve and Loree Potash Family Foundation

Clayton Keller

The Phillip and Terri Schrager Foundation

Nancy Lazer

The Hawks Foundation Thrivent Financial Todd & Mary Heistand Family Foundation

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Joseph Clanton

Michael Joyce Marie and David Kovar Jessica Lee Maria and Beau Malnack Jeff McGuire Angie Miller and Ryan Tucker

Karyn and Larry Overbeck Liz Orrick Kyle Quinn Bonnie Rubel Connie and Steve Saunders Stacey Schmid Dianne and John A. Scott Ann Slegman The Patterson Family Sarah and Dr. Michael Tucker Cy Wakeman Asure West Karen White David Wiesman Jill Wilson Adam Wiltgen

We Do Appreciate Our Dedicated Board and Staff !

Their investment of time and talent keep our organization operating efficiently. They believe in our mission and understand that books inspire children to experience a world beyond their reality and inspire them to explore new interests.

Our Board Scott Brown, Chair

Tom Hoy

Katy Spratte Joyce

Regional Director, Gallup

Director of Development, Together Inc.

Freelance Writer

Kelli Cavey, Vice Chair Vice President of Donor Services, Omaha Community Foundation

Maria Malnack, Treasurer Director of Finance and Infrastructure, NorthStar Foundation

Jeff McGuire, Secretary

Katie Lessman, M.D. OB/GYN, Nebraska Medicine Assistant Professor, UNMC

Connie Saunders

Cy Wakeman CEO, Reality-Based Leadership

Dr. Danita Webb Assistant Principal, Omaha Public Schools

Retired Teacher and Former Iowa Reading Teacher of the Year

Partner, Kutak Rock

Staff Angie Miller, J.D. Executive Director

Marie Kovar, Ed.S. Director of School Support

Kat Nixon School Support Manager

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All parts of this publication are encouraged to be shared with any member of the public who is interested in expanding access to books for children.

DIBS for Kids (Delivering Infinite Book Shelves for Kids) was founded in 2012 in Omaha, Nebraska. Today, DIBS proudly serves over 4,000 students across three states in over 200 classrooms. DIBS students, through our collection of over 42,000 books, have an opportunity to take home a book every school night to read.

To learn more, email DIBS for Kids at contact@dibsforkids.org

Author: Every Single Child Served by DIBS for Kids Designer: E Creative

We Do Thank You!

Please enjoy these book recommendations from DIBS students of some of their favorite books!

Copyright © 2021 DIBS for Kids.

All rights reserved for DIBS for Kids to deliver books to classrooms and inspire learning across the Omaha Metro and beyond.

DIBS for Kids Publishing 1111 N. 13th St., Suite 426 Omaha, NE 68102 dibsforkids.org