News

Success with book donation drive will help build schools in Nicaragua and students plan to travel there for spring break to the building process.

Austin, TX – Tuesday, February 1, 2011 – Fourteen year old, St. Andrew’s student, Alex Kriese, took initiative to lead a week long book donation drive last week to help build a school in rural Nicaragua. Alex and classmate Brian will also travel to Nicaragua to see the school built during their spring break in March.

After hearing Project Schoolhouse’s Executive Director, Thomas A. Barker (aka Tab) speak about how school rooms in rural Nicaragua were filled with mud and each student there having only one pen, Alex’ first thought was, “if the pen falls into the mud, it is not just dirty, it might be ruined. Then what do they do?” He contemplated and followed with, “It would be hard to learn in the mud.”

Determined to help other children, Alex talked with his school advisor, Mr. Joshua Nelson. And as a team member of St. Andrew’s Most Interesting Advisory in the World, Alex then consulted with his other members, all nine boys, about leading a book donation drive at St. Andrew’s School. With some assistance and approval from the school, the boys lead a donation drive to raise books and awareness of helping children globally.

For five days the group of students collected used books at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School 31^st Street campus each morning. They encouraged students; family, faculty and community members to help them reach their goal, so they can help other children in the world have the opportunity to learn in a new two-room, weatherproof facility.

The successful book drive challenged the students versus faculty into collecting and exceeding their goal of 5000 books; actual used books collected in five days was 7,727 books total with students collecting 6,286 books. Alex even helped design the flyers to announce the book drive to the school, as well as sort and process the books collected at the bookstore warehouse.

“I’ve learned about business in America, not just about schools in Nicaragua. Now I know about advertising, and getting workers, and selling them online. Plus the bookstore has an awesome conveyor belt and other fun stuff.”

The used books are given to Project Schoolhouse’s sister company, Books Beyond Borders to be sorted and processed for one of three things: resold online; re-gifted to other local nonprofits, parents or teachers who may need some of the books; or recycled responsibly to keep them away from filling up local area landfills. The money generated from the resale and recycling goes to help Project Schoolhouse.

“Books Beyond Borders is one of those rare businesses that does good (for others) and does it well,” said Alicia Kriese, mother to Alex and local Austin community member. “It is nice to see a company make money and make a difference at the same time.”

Alex will follow his book drive results over spring break as he travels to Nicaragua with his family, a classmate, his advisor and others where the school will be built. His travel to this rural destination has no roads. Therefore, his final three miles will be hiking up a steep mountain trail to the village.

Your involvement, large or small, will help impact and change the way a child learns locally and globally. To get involve and initiate your own book donation drive at places such as a local school, church, employer or neighborhood, call Project Schoolhouse at 512.853.9565 or email to info@projectschoolhouse.org. You can also learn more at www.projectschoolhouse.org or the sister organization, Books Beyond Borders, go to www.booksbeyondborders.com.

About Alex Kriese

Alex Kriese is currently in 8^th grade and has been attending St. Andrew’s Episcopal School since first grade. He did take one year off during his 5^th grade to live with his family in Australia and China. Like many teens his age, Alex is involved in sports such as football, soccer and tennis. He’s also in the Chinese Club, Small Engine Repair Club and Prejudice Awareness Peer Leadership Organization (PAPLO). St. Andrew’s students are encouraged to volunteer at least 16 hours each year. Last year, Alex did about 120 hours of service, and in 6^th grade, he won the community service award. Over the holidays, Alex helped his family host a book donation drive and collected over 2000 books. Alex is also a Boy Scout and is currently working on his Eagle Scout project, which is raising awareness of the harm that plastic bottle caps do to the environment and to animal life. He wants to encourage people to save the caps so he can turn them into a modern art piece which will be hung in the Lone Star Circle of Care Community Clinic. He is also the assistant patrol leader of his troop.

Press Contact Information:

Suzanha Pena

512-373-0906

Suzanha@quilazahn.com