GIVE AND LEARN is a non-profit organization [501(c)(3)] started in August 2003. It was founded on a simple idea -- children cannot learn to write without pens; they cannot learn to read without books. Without essential skills, they will have no opportunities to succeed in school or in life. An amazingly high number of children in New York City do not have basic school supplies.

Our goal is to identify children who are in need of assistance and give them the tools vital to a successful and complete education. We hope to lessen the burden, not only on their families, but also on their underpaid teachers who often purchase supplies for their students.

The cycle of poverty is very real. In order to break it, we have to adequately educate the children. If you are thinking that supplying paper and pens is a simple act, we agree. We know that if one wants to implement change, one must start with the basics.

Who is behind GIVE AND LEARN?
In the summer of 2003, realizing the vast financial disparity in our city and acknowledging our good fortune, we decided that we wanted to do something to help somebody. We quickly narrowed down "somebody" to children and "something" to education. We thought then (and still think now) that positively influencing a child's education is the best chance of positively affecting that child's future. As the adage says, "Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you will feed him for life."

We are committed to helping children; we are committed to implementing positive change, however small or simple it may be. We are volunteers. GIVE AND LEARN has no paid employees. Our salary is the satisfaction of having helped a child, and, in that sense, we are paid well.

Where does the money go?
All money donated goes directly to buying supplies for individual children, organizations that help children and classrooms wherein children learn. At this time, all of the administrative costs are covered by the directors.