Alyssa Cares Foundation

08/22/2017

It has been a while since we posted as sometimes we wonder if people get tired of seeing smiling children holding brand new books. We just received a packet with letters from a third grade class that we visited and one letter touched us immensely. Here it is:

"Dear Alyssa Cares,
Thank you for visiting us and thank you for letting us choose a book. Now, I love to read to my brother and to myself. My Mother is also reading my books and now she knows how to speak English. I hope you can come next year so that I can teach my baby brother."

To this I might add my favorite Mother Theresa quote:

"We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop."

Thank you Alyssa for showing us what love means during those years you were with us.

04/01/2017

12/13/2016

A lot of books found homes today! Thanks to Heather, Janay and Angela from Jackson National for volunteering their time and helping out today.

12/11/2016

Although we haven't posted in a while, doesn't mean we haven't been busy. This week we will be wrapping up our school visits before the holidays. We have also recently donated personalized "Little Free Libraries" to some of our recipient schools. These will be placed in the schools, so that the children can share their books with others once they are done reading them - give a book/take a book. Just another great tool in the literacy toolbox to spread the love of reading!

05/17/2016

An unsolicted correspondence from the Mom of a kindergartener at one of our recipient schools. It brought both happy and sad tears to our eyes...

"Hello Alyssa Cares,
We received a 3rd or 4th book today from your generous foundation. My son is in kindergarten and just loves reading and gets so excited when he gets a new book. As we were discussing his day I asked him if he knew who Alyssa was and he told me she died from cancer. He said " Mom, I want to know more about her." So we came to the website and I read her story and her poems to him.

We are so thankful to your family for your dedication and time you put into sharing her dream of making the world a better place. You have definitely made a difference with this foundation."

05/15/2016

One of the most heartwarming testimonials we have received from a principal at one of our recipient schools:

Dear Alyssa Cares,

"It is important that I take this time to let you know how much you mean to me and to the young scholars at Paris Elementary. Alyssa Cares is not just another organization that comes in to "rescue the poor children", you are truly a part of the Paris Family. Your core values clearly align with ours and the relationship that you are developing with our staff and our young scholars is more than one of one non-profit helping another.

The students light up when they know its an Alyssa Cares Day and they practically attack me in their enthusiasm to share their new books with me. I know these books are important to them because they are reading them every chance they get! At Paris, we have worked hard to increase our culture of literacy as well as foster the academic identities of our students. Alyssa Cares develops these same traits and that is when we say "yes" to organizations coming in to our school: when they help us achieve our goals of Raising All Students' Achievement, Creating a Positive School Community, and Fostering a Warm and Welcoming Environment. Alyssa Cares works alonside us to support us reaching all of these goals by allowing students choice in the books they choose, greeting each child and staff member, and by building the love of reading in each child through their own passion for children and rich literature.

While words could never express how much you mean to our community and our children, I say "Thank You" from the bottom of my heart and look forward to working together for many years to come.

For the Love of Reading and in Deep Grattitude
Tammy Stewart, Principal
Paris Elementary

05/01/2016

Another Testimonial Letter we would like to share:

Dear Alyssa Cares Foundation and Sponsors,

We would like to give our heartfelt thanks to the Alyssa Cares Foundation. Because of the foundation's dedication to gifting books to our children, the Doull Early Childhood students have the opportunity to grow and learn by reading at home.

When Joe and Carole bring books to give to the children, the children are very excited to be able to choose a book, and to have a "forever" book that they can take home and read with their families. Many of our students would not otherwise have books at home if it weren't for the commitment to children's reading that the Alyssa Cares Foundation provides. We are very grateful for all you and your sponsors do for the Children at Doull!

The Doull Elementary ECE Team
Dawn Zilch, Karen Maestas, Amy Stevens, Molly Nutt, Yameleh Santana, Geemane Montoya, Shelly Jacobi, Lillian Trujillo

04/30/2016

Over the past week, we were provided with some testimonial letters from various grade-level teachers at one of our recipient schools. We would like to share these with you over the next couple of days to let you know the end value of your support. We couldn't do this without you!

Dear Alyssa Cares,
I wanted to thank you so much for everything you do for our students. I am a 5th grade teacher at Doull Elementary. The impact you have on my students is more than just books. What you have done is created a relationship for my students with literacy. My students have told me that they have been part of your visits since kindergarten. Some of them have said this is the part of the year they look forward to the most. And I can't tell you how many times my students asked me, "Is there going to be another Alyssa Cares day?". Because of Alyssa's love for reading, my students love reading. You have added to their enthusiasm for books and there is no greater accomplishment in this world. I can't begin to tell you the impact you have made, so I will simply say THANK YOU! Thank you SO MUCH for your kindness, your patience and most importantly, your passion for children. You have brought books to so many of my students who might have never experienced the smell and feel of a brand new book. We are all truly in you debt and honored to be a part of your mission.

Thank you for your selflesness and love. You are changing lives.

Ryan Robinson
5th Grade Teacher
Doull Elementary

04/20/2016

at smile.amazon.com! Thank you Amazon for all that you do to support non-profits like ours!

04/20/2016

Last week at one of our school visits, we were able to capture an awesome moment where there was utter silence after a group of 4th graders chose their books. Not a word was being said as they sat down to read their new books. I am so thankful that two of my sisters who came out from Ohio to volunteer could witness this.

03/22/2016

Another "sparkle in the eyes" update times six!