The Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) is proud to partner with chapter members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), collectively referred to as the Divine Nine (D9), churches, community groups, faith-based organizations, and chapter members of other prominent membership organizations to introduce our CDF Freedom Schools at Home book program.

Through the Chapters Beyond Books partnership, those who make a generous donation to CDF will help their chapter or organization receive a shipment of culturally-relevant books to distribute into the hands and homes of children in grades K-12. Our goal is to distribute nearly 50,000 books across the country to families, helping them build their in-home libraries while also developing and nurturing their child’s love for reading.

Inspired by the original Freedom Summer of 1964, the CDF Freedom Schools program was founded in 1995 and designed to improve reading, language skills, interpersonal relationships, strengthen families, and develop in all participants the skills needed to improve conditions for children and families in their communities.

Making a gift today will provide more than just books to the children and families in your community. Donations will also provide these families with access to resources as a member of the CDF Freedom Schools at Home Network. The resources, including virtual monthly Family Book Club nights, will serve as a guide for parents, community leaders, educators, and others to engage in meaningful discussions that encourage the development of critical thinking, conflict-resolution, and social emotional learning skills for the purpose of mitigating the effects of COVID-19 learning loss.

As we commemorate our 25th year of service, the CDF Freedom Schools team is more committed than ever to meeting the needs of the children, families, and communities nationwide, especially during this ongoing global pandemic.

If you are part of a church, community group, faith-based organization, or other membership organization that is interested in joining the Chapters Beyond Books partnership, or if you are not part of a participating organization but would like to make a donation to distribute books to children and youth across the country, please contact Crystal Rucker at crucker@childrensdefense.org or 202-662-3626.

Thank you for enriching and empowering the lives of children and youth across the country.

Thank you to the following chapters who have helped to distribute books and literacy resources to children and youth in their communities and across the country: 

CHUMS, Inc.

Atlanta (GA) Chapter
Charleston (SC) Chapter
City Chapter
Chesapeake (VA) Chapter
Columbia (SC) Chapter
Detroit (MI) Chapter
Greater Lansing (MI) Chapter
Hampton-Newport News (VA) Chapter
Los Angeles (CA) Chapter
New York (NY) Chapter
Norfolk (VA) Chapter
Orlando (FL) Chapter
Raleigh (NC) Chapter
Roanoke (VA) Chapter
St. Louis (MO) Chapter
Tri-City (NC) Chapter

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Arlington Alumnae Chapter
Arabian Gulf Alumnae Chapter
Berkeley Bay Area Alumnae Chapter
Charlotte Alumnae Chapter
Chicago Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter
Cincinnati Alumnae Chapter
Collin County Alumnae Chapter
Clinton (MS) Alumnae Chapter
Colorado Springs Alumnae Chapter
Columbus (OH) Alumnae Chapter
Dallas Alumnae Chapter
Decatur (GA) Alumnae Chapter
Denbigh Alumnae Chapter
Fairfax County Alumnae Chapter
Fort Worth Alumnae Chapter
Gwinnett County Alumnae Chapter
Henrico County Alumnae Chapter
Henry County Alumnae Chapter
Hickory Alumnae Chapter
Houston Alumnae Chapter
Mobile Alumnae Chapter
Metropolitan Dallas Alumnae Chapter
Murrieta-Temecula Area Alumnae Chapter
New Jersey Garden City Alumnae Chapter
Petersburg Alumnae Chapter
Phoenix Metro Alumnae Chapter
Quaker City Alumnae Chapter
San Francisco Peninsula Alumnae Chapter
St. Louis Alumnae Chapter
Tallahassee Alumnae Chapter
Youngstown (OH) Alumnae Chapter
Washington, DC Alumnae Chapter

Jack and Jill of America, Inc. 

Atlanta Chapter
Austin Chapter
Charlotte Chapter
Clear Lake/ Bay Area Chapter
Cleveland Chapter
Columbia, MD Chapter
Columbus, GA Chapter
Dallas Fort Worth Mid-Cities Chapter
Eastern Region
Greater Baltimore County Chapter
Greater Hartford Chapter
Greater Little Rock Chapter
Mid-Atlantic Region
Montgomery County, PA Chapter
Northeast Dallas Chapter
Northern Virginia Chapter
North Suburban Atlanta Chapter
Oakland Bay Area Chapter
Phoenix Chapter
Reston Chapter
South Jersey Chapter
Suffolk County Chapter
Western Maryland Chapter
West Suburban Chicago Chapter

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. 

Eastern Region
National Office – Valerie Hollingsworth Baker, International Centennial President

The Roanoke Chapter of Chums, Inc. partnered with the Melrose Branch Library to provide books and literacy resources to children in their Read and Feed Program.

Can I mail my donation to Chapters Beyond Books?
Yes, please print out this form and send your mailed check to:

Children’s Defense Fund
Attn: Crystal Rucker
840 First Street NE
Suite 300
Washington, DC 20002

Once the check has been placed in the mail, please notify Crystal Rucker at crucker@childrensdefense.org for next steps.

What is the deadline to make a donation to this initiative?
Chapters Beyond Books is an ongoing emergency response effort to help mitigate the effects of COVID-19 learning loss. The initiative will conclude once the goal has been met to distribute nearly 50,000 culturally relevant books across the country to children and youth in grades K-12.

How long will it take for the shipment of books to arrive?
Once the minimum donation of $1,000 has been received, book shipment orders are processed weekly. Books typically arrive within 2-3 weeks from the date of processing.

Can we ship books to a P.O. Box?
No. The books are shipped via a courier service, so a physical shipping address is required.

Can the books be shipped internationally?
No. We cannot directly ship books internationally since our book distributor only has U.S. publishing rights to the inventory of books.

Can we choose our own books from the inventory?
No. A member of the CDF Freedom Schools® team selects the book titles from the inventory and coordinates the orders directly with the warehouse.

What are some examples of book titles?
There are over 100 book titles for children and youth in grades K-12 ranging from books like Tiara’s Hat Parade by Kelly Starling Lyons, Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts to Changing the Equation: 50+ US Black Women in STEM by Tonya Bolden.

Can I donate and have the recipients of the books determined for me?
Yes. We have a list of schools, nonprofit organizations, and community groups from across the country who have expressed an interest in receiving a shipment of books if there is an opportunity for them to receive them.

What is the purpose of the postcards? Do I have to include them with the books at the time of distribution?
The postcards provide children, youth and their families with access to the CDF Freedom Schools At Home Network. In addition to books, the CDF Freedom Schools team has developed literacy resources and organized monthly Family Book Club nights featuring special guest readers. The postcards should be distributed with the books so the recipients have more information on how to access the additional literacy resources provided to them.

What are the dates for the monthly Family Book Club nights, and how can I join?
Due to an overwhelming positive response, we recently announced that we are extending the monthly Family Book Club nights through the fall of 2021. Visit the Children’s Defense Fund’s Facebook Live page to join in monthly with your family and others. Check back on this site for a full list of summer and fall 2021 dates. To get a glimpse of the excitement, click here to watch a past monthly Family Club night featuring special guest reader, Ms. Beverly Smith, president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Are the donations tax-deductible?
Yes. All gifts made to the Children’s Defense Fund through the Chapters Beyond Books initiative are 100% tax-deductible.

Do we have to pay for shipping?
The Children’s Defense Fund covers the cost of shipping for books and postcards that are shipped within the U.S.

How do I donate?
If you are ready to make a minimum donation of $1,000 to receive your shipment of books, select the “Ship Now” option above and provide the information requested. If you are joining with others to reach a goal, please choose the “Donate Now” option above.

For those making a donation to help reach a collective goal, we ask that at least one point of contact serve as a liaison between the Chapters Beyond Books staff contact and your organization or group in order to facilitate next steps once the minimum donation goal has been reached.

What are culturally relevant books?
Culturally relevant books facilitate culturally responsive teaching through literature that is representative of diverse cultures. Children identify with cultural traditions portrayed in the books and with the characters’ identities and personalities. Culturally relevant books deepen a child’s understanding of themselves and all they have in common with others in a multiracial, multicultural democratic society. Children have a greater interest in reading books that are representative of their realities.

Have additional questions? Email books@childrensdefense.org.