Kyle and Brady Baldwin are brothers from Green Valley, California who love to read, among other things. Being raised in a home surrounded with books, they were shocked to learn that some children never have a book of their own. Just over a year ago, they conceived a plan to collect and give away new or gently used books to underprivileged children in their community. Through the support of local businesses, book publishers, bookstores and individuals, their program began to take shape. Once enough books were collected for one classroom, they arranged a visit to an area school to give away the books.

Kyle and Brady’s original goal was to give away 750 books by the end of the school year. By December, they had already collected and distributed 2,762 books. Their long term goal is to make “My Own Book” continue to grow and expand to more communities and to help people realize that the simple act of reading to a child can make their community a better place for all.