About Us:
Ferst Readers is a nonprofit organization that mails quality books and useful literacy resources to the home during a child’s earliest and most critical stage of development. The organization’s commitment to helping create a rich language environment in the home sets the stage for eventual reading proficiency and academic success – key factors for breaking the cycle of poverty and illit
eracy. Ferst Readers currently delivers books to more than 42,000 children every month and has placed more than 5.4 million quality books in homes since 1999. More than 700 volunteers across seven states are raising awareness about the importance of early literacy in their communities and helping prepare young children for reading and learning success. Our Story
Reading and literacy is extremely important to founder Robin Ferst on many levels. Robin’s passion for reading began at an early age. At six, she was diagnosed with hearing loss and books became the most important part of her world. Books gave her the confidence to overcome challenges and opened up a world of possibilities to become a successful business woman. Listening to a plant executive discuss the difficulty in finding employees who could read at the required level for hiring in Madison, Georgia, Robin Ferst was inspired to start the non-profit Ferst Readers in 1999. Today, Ferst Readers is an organization that strengthens entire communities by ensuring every child, beginning from birth, has the opportunity to learn and grow in a home environment full of rich language experiences. Ferst Readers’ mission is to strengthen communities by providing quality books and literacy resources for children and their families to use at home during the earliest stages of development. Ferst Readers currently delivers books to more than 42,000 children every month, and has placed more than 5.4 million quality, age-specific books in homes since 1999. More than 700 volunteers across seven states are raising awareness about the importance of early literacy and helping prepare young children in their communities for reading and learning success.
