Kids Need to Read Press
ASU News
"James Blasingame on why 'kids need to read'"
Chairman James Blasingame is asked about his involvement with Kids Need to Read.
By Judith Smith
June 15, 2010
Browncoats: Redemption on Vimeo
"Phoenix Comicon Panel"
Denise Gary joins the Browncoats: Redemption panel at Phoenix Comicon 2010 to discuss Kids Need to Read and its Browncoat connection.
By browncoatsmovie
June 8, 2010
SciFi Surplus
"SFS 131 Phoenix Comicon with Browncoats: Redemption"
The crew of Browncoats: Redemption chats about Phoenix Comicon 2010 and the Kids Need to Read Geek Prom in this podcast.
By Casey Shultz
June 5, 2010
12 News Today
"Phoenix Comicon is on!"
Denise Gary talks about Kids Need to Read and the Geek Prom at Phoenix Comicon in this news clip.
By Nicole McGregor
May 28, 2010
Firefly: Still Flying: A Celebration of Joss Whedon's Acclaimed Television Series
"The Browncoats: An Overview of Firefly Fandom"
Denise Gary discusses Kids Need to Read in the Browncoat charities section of this book.
By Abbie Bernstein
May 25, 2010
Our core program is to buy new books for under-funded schools and libraries and clinics and shelters, any place that has a good literacy program for children, especially disadvantaged children. It is also about giving the right kind of books. Most of our kids are very underprivileged, very poverty-stricken; they're not surrounded with a culture of reading. So we give books that have valuable substance and a lot of uplifting messages. That's a very big part of our mission, as well.
azcentral.com
"Phoenix Comicon"
Literature Advisory Committee member Daanon DeCock talks about KNTR's involvement at Phoenix Comicon in this news clip.
By Channel 12 News video
May 24, 2010
SFX.co.uk
"Author Interview PJ Haarsma"
SFX reader Helen Rehmany quizzes The Softwire author PJ Haarsma.
By Helen Rehmany
May 7, 2010
Helen: Kids Need To Read, the charity you co-founded with actor Nathan Fillion, is going from strength to strength. What prompted its inception?
Haarsma: As I visited schools at the beginning of my career, I was often confronted with budget constraints. Some educators had given in to the relentless cuts to their libraries’ budgets by claiming that their children didn’t read anyway. Yet, I would come into their schools and light their kids on fire with my presentation (not literally of course). The kids demanded copies of my book and teachers scrambled to take money out of their own wallets to put a single copy on the shelf. At one school a little girl followed me into the parking lot after my presentation was over and said, “I got a movie ticket for my Christmas present. Can I trade it for one of your books?” What do you do with that? You start a charity.
SFX.co.uk
"Support for Kids Need to Read"
See actor Nathan Fillion and author PJ Haarsma in a video to promote their reading charity.
By Admin
May 4, 2010
Crossed Genres
"We Are Mighty"
By Jaym Gates
April 2, 2010
Browncoats: Redemption is an ambitious look at what might have happened after the crew of Serenity broadcast the signal. It has ambitious goals too: to raise a significant amount of money for the charities it supports.
They chose from a list of charities supported by the stars of Firefly. The Dyslexia Foundation, Kids Need to Read, Equality Now, the Al Wooten Jr. Foundation and the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement foundation. Each charity will receive an equal percentage of the proceeds from the DVD sales.
How much? Steve and Mike have a minimum goal of $90,000 per charity. Some of these charities are just starting up. Others are well established, but they all support an incredibly diverse range of worthy causes.
Kids Need to Read is the one that really brought me into the fold. Started by PJ Haarsma and Nathan Fillion (“Mal”), KNTR brings books to under-funded schools and libraries. Some of PJ’s stories are heart-breaking, as he talks about the kids he’s talked to and the places he’s been.
Browncoats: Redemption Podcast
"Episode 7: Denise Gary, Kids Need to Read, plus Listener Questions"
Denise Gary talks about the work of Kids Need to Read, sending positive messages to the forgotten children of poverty, Nathan Fillion fangirliness, enjoying life to the fullest, the impact of Fillion Fans for Kids Need to Read, the strength of kindness, KNTR plans for Phoenix Comicon, and the content of not for profit websites.
By Casey Schultz
March 27, 2010
NeverendingPanel.com
"PJ Haarsma 2"
Founder PJ Haarsma discusses how his writing lead to the creation of Kids Need to Read.
By wambutu
March 22, 2010
Girls Incorporated of Omaha
"Highlights still has all the classics..."
By GirlsIncStaff
March 1, 2010
Girls Incorporated of Omaha
"Girls pick out some good reads from Kids Need to Read donation."
By Admin
February 10, 2010
Girls Incorporated of Omaha
"The Books Are Here!"
By Admin
February 10, 2010
Browncoats: Redemption on Vimeo
"Panel at Creation Entertainment's Salute to Firefly and Serenity"
Denise Gary joins the Browncoats: Redemption panel at Creation Entertainment's Salute to Firefly and Serenity 2009.
By browncoatsmovie
February 9, 2010
OmbrellaMedia
Dialogues, "Episode 8 (part 1) - Denise Gary"
KNTR's Executive Director discusses the foundation’s origins, the deplorable condition of the American education system, and how the high rate of illiteracy affects the entire fabric of society.
By John D. McMahon
February 7, 2010
OmbrellaMedia
Dialogues, "Episode 8 (part 2) - Denise Gary"
KNTR's Executive Director discusses the impact that spoken words have on people, especially between children and adults.
By John D. McMahon
February 8, 2010
OmbrellaMedia
Dialogues, "Episode 8 (part 3) - Denise Gary"
KNTR's Executive Director discusses internet etiquette, and expands on the theme of disrespect within our society and as depicted in the television show, Firefly.
By John D. McMahon
February 14, 2010
Wired.com/GeekDad
"Interview: Nathan Fillion Talks Firefly, Dr. Horrible, and Why Kids Need to Read"
By Matt Blum
January 21, 2010
Girlgamer.com
"2009 Dr Horrible/The Guild Charity Screening!"
By GG-CrixLee
November 17, 2009
TV Guide
"Highlights: Oh, What a Fillion!"
By Ingela Ratledge
Issue Date: November 9-15, 2009
Sending a Wave
"Episode 55 October 2009"
PJ Haarsma and Denise Gary talk about KNTR with podcaster Wendy Scott at Dragon*Con.
October 30, 2009
USA WEEKEND
"Make A Difference Day"
Nathan Fillion promotes volunteerism and Kids Need to Read.
Issue Date: October 18, 2009
Worthplaying.com
"Halo 3: ODST (X360) Nathan Fillion Interview"
By Adam Pavlacka
September 25, 2009
WP: One of the things that you mentioned earlier was that your parents were teachers. On "Castle," you play a writer. In real life, you co-founded Kids Need to Read a couple of years ago to help give books to children. How important were books to you when you were growing up, and how have things been going with Kids Need to Read?
NF: Things are going great with Kids Need to Read. From a bumbling little charity that we kind of conceived of and started, it's become an official 501(c)(3) thanks to a bunch of Browncoats, fans of Firefly and fans of PJ Haarsma. That thing is a full-blown charity; it's got a life of its own. We're getting a lot of books into a lot of kids' hands.
For me growing up, having books was like a ticket to ride. Even now, if I didn't have books, I wouldn't have half the imagination I have. Things light me on fire when I'm reading. I really enjoy being transported. I'm reading "World War Z" right now by Max Brooks. That book scared the crap out of me. I love it! I love that I can be at work, sitting on the set, I have 10 minutes before the next thing I've got to do, and for 10 minutes, I can escape. I love it, and I would love children to have that opportunity as well. You teach a kid to read, you let him read, you give him the experience, there's nothing he can't do.
Daily Dragon
"Kids Need to Read Arrives at Dragon*Con"
By Shannon O'Connor
September 3, 2009
Suite 101 Children's Books
"Kids Need to Read Supplies Books for Libraries"
Nonprofit Organization Aids in Child Literacy Development
By Michael Jung
July 8, 2009
News 8 Austin
"Austin hosts first toy trade show in years"
Chemical Toy Fair, hosted by Out of the Past Collectables and Austin Browncoats, benefits Kids Need to Read.
By News 8 Austin video
May 22, 2009