Textbooks for Charity OSU student finds a way to donate unwanted books to those in need story bailey york design zoe clifton
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he general problem with college textbooks is that they only hold value to the student for one semester. After completion of the course, most become paperweights on a shelf. Some students sell them to book exchanges for a thin margin. Senior marketing major Zagrous Kawarizadeh noticed this problem last April when he tried to sell $200 worth of textbooks and only received $8. But what if those textbooks had more value than pocket change and could empower education for students in developing nations? Blanket Books, founded by Zagrous Kawarizadeh, is a non-profit with the goal of providing students around the world the opportunity to learn from used textbooks, all of which are donated by students from the United States. When returning his books for razor thin margins, Kawarizadeh noticed two important details. The value of the book was not fairly priced given the amount of time he needed the utility of the book. And, not all the textbooks returned would be used. The whole point of the organization was to give students a tax deduction while allocating the textbooks for students who lack accessibility to course materials. Donating your textbook is easy. All you have to do is collect your used textbooks and take them to a Blanket Books drop off location, which is currently located at Trism on High Street. From there, you identify the textbooks you are donating and you will be emailed a donation receipt to file for your
tax savings. The process is quick, easy, efficient, and impactful. Blanket Books is currently partnered with the University of Belize, the University of The Bahamas, and the University of El Salvador. In addition to Latin American universities, Blanket Books is looking to expand into Middle Eastern markets, however most attention has been focused on Latin America because of Asian copyright laws and European and African shipping costs. While Kawarizadeh works to solve logistical difficulties, there is clear demand for the growing number of donations from these universities. The non-profit, operating in existence for less than a year, is expecting to expand to 20,000 books delivered in 2018. Kawarisdeh feels corporate social responsibility and academic empowerment are two values which act as the bedrock for Blanket Book’s guiding principles. Touching on an age-old belief, Kawarisadeh’s non-profit recognizes the importance of technical skill sets in a changing labor force. “If you give a man a fish he eats for a day. If you teach a man to fish he eats for life. If you give that same man a book on accounting, he isn’t a fisherman anymore, but a CPA.” He believes the idea rings true for everyone. Having a practical skill such as accounting drives impact within y c their economies. a r Education, as a lite y.
tool of empowerment, strengthens the labor force in emerging markets. As a result, developing countries foster a hotbed of ingenuity and growth to help diversify their economies. As the university’s reputation grows, local talent and interest in businesses will grow. Kawarisadeh’s vision of utilizing academic incentives with tax deductions pairs local businesses with universities and library systems, encouraging literacy for everyone. Additionally, the universities are able to notify Blanket Books of curriculum changes which allows Kawarisadeh to target specific demand. While Kawarisadeh touches on the impact of accounting textbooks, the University of Belize sends books to libraries nearby reaching an even larger audience. In terms of future plans for Zagrous Kawarisadeh, his intention is to continue devoloping strong ties for Blanket Books across the globe. Currently a senior marketing major, his previous work developing operational strategies is indicative of more partnerships. “I enjoy a balance with Blanket Books. It’s important to have a career that you are passionate about. Blanket Books is a project I touch on once a week, though it has been rewarding to see the results flourish and bloom.”
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Every additional year of schooling increases a person’s average future income by 10% in developing, low-inome countries.
FISHER INK MAGAZINE
YEARBOOK 2018