Committed BBF Volunteer Wins Award from Toyota!

The Book Bank Foundation is proud to announce that Derrick Wallace, an Atlanta-based volunteer, was given the Community Star Award by Autonation and Toyota for his commitment to helping the community. Derrick commits an average of 50 hours each month in service to his community!

Derrick graciously took the time to tell us more about his involvement with The Book Bank Foundation:

"I got involved with the BBF back in the fall of 2006 when I met Glenn Toby. He and I had a common bond when it comes to caring for those in need."

When asked Derrick why he is so passionate about the work of The Book Bank Foundation, Derrick went on to say, "I myself have gone through a period of loss. I was forced from my home at one time and had to cope with the fact that everything I had in my possession was gone. My family has always a been strong worry-free family so I took on those traits but vowed to always continue being the happy person I am and help others as I always did even before my own loss. I know that I can never fail as long as I’m helping others because the blessings are spiritual and BBF seems to hold these same values.

I travel from place to place. I pick up donations, collect funds, and create proposals between our foundation and other companies. I also organize, plan, and give full participation in the Pre-Thanksgiving Celebration that takes place on the 21st of November with the help of my dealership in Atlanta, Team Toyota. Around Atlanta, I spend time networking and finding new sponsors, business partners and volunteers for the BBF."

I asked Derrick if he had a special memory from his time with the BBF. He replied, "I like to think all the experiences are amazing. The smiles are always the most touching. Its always been a happy experience during all our events and I have yet to classify one moment as being more touching than the next."

Derrick's advice to people who are interested in volunteering with the BBF is, " I would tell that person that our foundation is strictly the apex of charity! We do these things from the heart with healing and educating on our minds. We never look to the material things in life as a reward for our caring! They should know that the BBF always leaves the door open for other warm hearts. We plan to change lives one person at a time and even if we are never recognized we will always be remembered by the lives we touched."

If you are ready to make a difference in the lives of others like Derrick Wallace, please contact us right away at info@bookbankfoundation.org or call us at 718-989-2168.

In other Book Bank Foundation news, we want to thank Triple Crown Publications for their donation of 80 new books! We also want to send a big thanks to the Women's Regional Business Council in Philadelphia for their willingness to collect donations at their May Monthly meeting.

In upcoming months The Book Bank Foundation will be holding some amazing events around the country to brighten the lives of the homeless and impoverished. In May we will be holding a Mother's Day event at a women's shelter in NYC. Soon after we will be holding a Back to School Tour in Baltimore, Boston and NYC. If you have donations to offer us for any of these events, please contact us right away!

May you have a week full of purpose!

Sincerely,

Patricia Omoqui
Executive Compliance Officer
www.thebbf.org

The Book Bank Foundation Goes Hollywood

Hello month of April and hello to all. Spring is here and The Book Bank Foundation is certainly springing into new and exciting things this month. We are excited to announce our new project, a documentary called “Return to Sender.” Founder Glenn Toby was in Los Angeles this past weekend filming the documentary that records the lives of homeless and destitute individuals trying to survive on the streets of America.

Mr. Toby gave his account of what he saw and experienced while filming on the streets of Los Angeles. Glenn Toby on Location:

I'm in Los Angeles filming “Return to Sender” a documentary film about homelessness and the lost, the lonely and the forgotten. This is a movie I have been directing and filming for four years now, with the help of René Napoleon, the Glovers, Anthony White and the entire Book Bank Foundation executive board, staff and membership.

I went to skid row, the homeless section of Los Angeles and taped the testimonials of some of the most forgotten about people on the planet. We then went to Beverly Hills to show the difference between access and excess. From seeing 20 million dollar homes to people that can't even get 20 dollars to feed their families. It's shocking to think that the super wealthy and people suffering in ‘third world country’ conditions, are just minutes away from each other.

We documented the suffering and needs of people here in California, from Beverly Hills, to Venice Beach and back to skid row. It’s the same problem with a different face and address or worse faceless with no address. We all share a common bond. We are human with basic needs and an ability to understand each other when we want and need to.

I had no camera man so I had to interview, shoot and navigate around police, angry groups of displaced people and fumble with equipment when moving from location to location.

I want to thank Kevin Donaldson a new member of the Book Bank Foundation for supporting and assisting me in the research as well as security and most importantly offering love and support to the many people we came in contact with.

I fell a bit ill. You know we don't use masks or gloves when in the concrete jungle so often times you are vulnerable to flu or colds. Intense training and years of survival allow you to navigate through the risks and challenges. This is not work for just anyone to jump up and start doing.

Our organization and its members are searching for caring people that want to change the world with love, humility and proper resources to heal, help and inspire. Reporting from the Los Angeles, California on behalf of the lost, the lonely and the forgotten, I am Glenn Toby, the founder of the Book Bank Foundation.

Remember you can be the change you want to see in our world. We are in need of investors, equipment, talent and any other resources to help us complete this mission. Join the Book Bank Foundation today. If you have any questions please contact us at: info@thebbf.org or (718)989-2168