8:17 a.m., May 7, 2009----First Book has received a $1,500 donation to help with its mission to give disadvantaged kids their first book from the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS), a nonprofit organization that recognizes and engages high-achieving college students at 235 universities, including the University of Delaware.

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NSCS pledged to donate 10 cents per fan on its Facebook fan page on April 30 in honor of its 15th anniversary. The society rallied its members and supporters at the University of Delaware to contribute to the cause and college students across the country became fans and inspired their friends and family members to join.

“People really seemed to respond to the cause,” said Steve Loflin, executive director and founder of the society. “Shortly after the project was announced, we were so pleased to have 2,000 new fans in one night, which is $200 for First Book. It was inspiring to see how people want to help make a difference.”

First Book was chosen as the donation recipient because of the strong connection between reading at an early age and academic success.

The donation comes at a particularly helpful time as the economic downturn has driven down donations to nonprofits and charities.

First Book was started in 1992 after Kyle Zimmer, a corporate lawyer by day and tutor at an inner-city soup kitchen by night, discovered that the children she tutored had no books to read. Since then First Book has deliver more than 60 million books to programs serving children in need across the United States and Canada.

The National Society of Collegiate Scholars is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies and is the nation's only interdisciplinary honors organization to invite first- and second-year college students. Membership is by invitation only, based on grade point average and class standing.