Kellie Cairns has always loved books, influenced by her mother, husband, and sister, who are all teachers.  In 2002 she founded “Book Buddies”, a literacy program of the Molina Foundation, and is known to thousands of children as “The Book Lady”.  She became good friends with Helen Coffey, chair of the Los Angeles First Book chapter, and is currently its chair.
 
Kellie has personally helped to distribute over 3 million books to children, and built over 125 libraries including the Helen Coffey Reading Room in honor of her dear friend.  She has been featured on Oprah Winfrey and recognized by President George W Bush.  She receives e-mails from successful college students who were in grade school when she first met them and gave them books.
 
 
She described experiences of children earning and receiving their own books.  This gives them confidence, and they often reread their books many times.  Receiving a book of their choice as their own inspires them to learn to read well.  Kellie stated that the cost of one iPad would pay for 1400 books.  Inspiring children to learn to read their own books promotes success in education, leading to success in getting jobs and breaking the cycle of poverty.  One girl with cerebral palsy picked a book on dancing!
 
Kellie showed a video slideshow of photos accumulated over years of the children and volunteers, including dressing up in Dr Seuss or pirate costumes.  Among institutional sponsors are Disney Publishing, Cheerios, and the US Coast Guard.  She is happy to partner with Rotary to supply books to the Helen Coffey Reading Room at the Harbor Interfaith Community Center in San Pedro.  (Each speaker at our weekly Rotary meetings selects and signs a children’s book which we donate to the Helen Coffey Reading Room.)