Help AWI Donate Books to Underserved Children on #GivingTuesday

Giving Tuesday, a global day of giving on December 1 this year, offers an opportunity for people around the world to stand together in unity—to use our individual power of generosity to remain connected. This December 1, AWI is asking for your support as we donate animal-themed books to children across the country.

AWI has produced five books that encourage respect and empathy for all living creatures. These engaging stories will help inspire the next generation of compassionate individuals to advocate for animals in and out of the classroom. For every $3 you donate, one of these five books will be delivered to nonprofit organizations working with children living in under-resourced communities and homeless shelters. Your donation covers the actual printing cost of each book. AWI will cover the shipping costs.

For young children (kindergarten to second grade), Kamie Cat’s Terrible Night chronicles the misadventures of a lost cat. Pablo Puppy’s Search for the Perfect Person is a story about a puppy and an older dog living in a shelter. Both publications are also available in Spanish.

Another book, The Boy Who Loved All Living Things, is a tale inspired by real events from the childhood of noted humanitarian Dr. Albert Schweitzer. Together, these three books—created especially for AWI by award-winning author and illustrator, Sheila Hamanaka—teach students about proper pet care and the importance of being kind to animals.

In association with the Kenya Wildlife Service, AWI produced A Dangerous Life, a graphic novel aimed at middle school–age readers, written and illustrated by Sheila Hamanaka with Lisa Barile, Rosalie Knox, and Julie Lien. The story, set in Kenya, focuses on the true costs of the ivory trade, including its conservation impacts, and the significance of the family bond to both animals and humans.

For students in high school and beyond, AWI offers The Magic of Touch, by Annie and Viktor Reinhardt, which discusses the calming, stress-buffering, and life-enhancing effect of touch among animals, among humans, and between animals and humans. 

If you have already donated to AWI or are a regular contributor, please accept our heartfelt thanks. Without generous contributors like you, our work to protect animals would not be possible. Your funds are always used wisely: AWI received an A+ rating from CharityWatch and a top 4-star rating from Charity Navigator—the nation’s leading independent charity monitors—in recognition of the organization’s fiscal responsibility and transparency.

Will you join us by donating on December 1 to support youth literacy and improve the lives of animals? On Giving Tuesday, 100 percent of donations received will go directly to this campaign. 

DONATE

We understand this is a challenging time for many, and that not everyone will be in a position to donate. If you are unable to donate at this time, please help spread the word about this campaign on social media. Here are some sample posts to encourage your friends and family to take action: 

• #GivingTuesday, December 1 this year, is a global day of generosity. The Animal Welfare Institute seeks to help both children and animals this year by donating books that teach the importance of caring for and about animals to children across the country. awionline.org/GivingTuesday2020
• This #GivingTuesday, donate to the Animal Welfare Institute to help teach children the importance of compassion toward animals. awionline.org/GivingTuesday2020
• Together we stand. Together we give. Your generosity to the Animal Welfare Institute will make a difference for children and animals on #GivingTuesday. Learn more: awionline.org/GivingTuesday2020
• #GivingTuesday is an opportunity for people around the world to stand together in unity. Join the Animal Welfare Institute on December 1 to help donate books that teach the importance of empathy for animals to children across the country. awionline.org/GivingTuesday2020

Please contact [email protected] with any questions.

*ALL DONATIONS MADE ON GIVING TUESDAY (DECEMBER 1, 2020) WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE DESIGNATED FOR AWI’S BOOK DONATION CAMPAIGN UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS CAMPAIGN BEFORE DECEMBER 1, PLEASE WRITE “GIVING TUESDAY” IN THE COMMENT BOX WHEN YOU DONATE. THANK YOU!