Children from low-income families often grow up in “word deserts” – having few books in their classrooms and even fewer at home. Without access to words, it becomes very difficult for children and families to navigate the education and health care systems.
Through The Molina Foundation’s signature program, Book Buddies, we distribute new books to community agencies serving children and families in need. We have partnered with organizations to distribute more than 4 million books to help create word-rich and healthy homes.
To access the Book Buddies program, eligible programs and schools should Join Our Network.
Groups in our Network are the first to know about opportunities to apply for new books and other resources. We announce these opportunities via email.
We know many programs are in desperate need of resources – such as books and other educational and health resources. We work every day to find donations of books and resources to share with your program – and we share these opportunities as fast as we can.
The books The Molina Foundation gives away are all brand new, and donated from publishers and other partners. Most of the books we receive are fiction, pleasure-reading titles. The books often feature popular characters, including many from television shows or movies. We also receive workbooks, activity books, coloring books, and other treasures to help children practice important skills at home. Most of the books we receive are for children of all ages (0-18); occasionally we have books for adults. Most of the books are in English, although we sometimes have books available in Spanish and other languages.
Occasionally, we receive donations of other health and education resources. In the past we have made grants of hand sanitizer, puppets, flashcards, and even bookcases. We do not make cash grants.
As we receive donations of new books, we sort through the inventory and then send invitations to eligible programs with a link to apply online for a grant. We send announcements as often as we can!
The books are always free. Books may be shipped for a minimal shipping and handling charge.
Our goal is to help families start or grow their home libraries. We encourage programs to apply for 1-3 books for each child they serve. In some cases, a few of the books may be used to help enhance learning environments by restocking library shelves. Our team does their best to try to match the inventory we have with the needs of the program. At this time, we are not able to accommodate requests for specific titles.
The Molina Foundation makes book grants to community organizations and schools. Please share our information with your child’s school, your church, a community center in your neighborhood, your library, or another community agency so we can work with them to bring books to families in your neighborhood. You can find some simple information to share here.
The Molina Foundation accepts donations of new books, educational materials, and health resources that support our mission. If you are interested in learning about how to donate, please call our team at (310) 375-6813 or email us at [email protected].