News & Media
Check out the latest news from Bernie's Book Bank!
Creating Community: Chapter 4
Every Tuesday at 11 a.m. all-star volunteer Dominique arrives at Bernie’s Book Bank with a bright smile, ready to volunteer.Dominique was first introduced to Bernie's Book Bank in 2014 when she joined an adult day program after graduating school. She and...
Drive N’ Dine: Zacatacos
Zacatacos* of Chicago is one of many taco joints throughout the city, but for the drive team they are a cut above the rest. Maybe it’s because they only use USDA choice inner skirt for their famous steak tacos, or maybe it’s their unbeatable El Pastor...
2019 Book Lovers’ City Lunch
More than 160 guests attended the 5th Annual Book Lovers’ City Lunch presented by KPMG and William Blair on Wednesday, October 23rd. Bernie’s Book Bank was honored to host best-selling author Marie Benedict and educator Vonyell Foster. Both...
Drive N’ Dine: Dickey’s BBQ Pit
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit* in Gurnee is a mouthwatering experience the Bernie’s Book Bank team can’t pass up when fortunate enough to be in the area. This Texas native institution got its beginnings with Travis Dickey, a WWII veteran with a love of gab and...
Bernie’s Book Bank Exhibit on Display at First Bank of Highland Park
Bernie’s Book Bank is honored to be the featured nonprofit organization on the Ruth Fell Wander Community Art Wall at First Bank of Highland Park throughout the month of October.The community art wall was created in 2002 in memory of First Bank of Highland...
Drive N’ Dine: Epic Deli
Epic Deli* of McHenry is one of the most stylishly unique eateries our Book Team has had the privilege of sampling. Visually, it presents customers with a vibrant graffiti style color scheme peppered with artistic caricatures of monster, food hybrids. It...
Spooktacular Volunteering Returns
Join Bernie’s Book Bank for a spooktacular volunteer session! Enjoy jamming out to the Monster Mash and more wicked tunes as you prepare BOOks for the at-risk Chicagoland children Bernie’s Book Bank serves. Come dressed in your best costume for a Halloween...
2019 Birdies & Books
More than 200 players teed off on Monday, October 7th for the annual Birdies & Books Charity Golf Classic. It was a perfect fall day for 18 holes of competitive and meaningful golf at Shoreacres. 2019 marks the 10th anniversary of Bernie's Book Bank....
Sponsor A Book
Bernie’s Book Bank is excited to unveil a “Sponsor A Book” program that aims to increase the number of books distributed that feature diverse characters and story lines. Educators will tell you that while all children need books that act as windows to new...
Drive N’ Dine: Pita Inn
Pita Inn* of Skokie is a Bernie’s Book Bank driver staple. This family run Mediterranean Style food chain was crafted by Falah Tabahi and his wife with their flagship location rooted in Skokie. The combination of a menu that brims with delicious dishes and...
65 Honor Roll – Nominations Open
The Patrick Mannelly Award is presented to the most outstanding Long Snapper in Division I football. In its inaugural year, those at the Patrick Mannelly Award have selected Bernie's Book Bank as their official nonprofit beneficiary. Together, the Patrick...
2019 Astellas Changing Tomorrow Day
More than 100 Astellas employees stepped away from the office on Wednesday, September 18th to volunteer at Bernie’s Book Bank as part of the 10th annual Changing Tomorrow Day. Changing Tomorrow Day is a series of volunteer events for Astellas employees to...
Drive N’ Dine: Augustino’s
Augustino’s Rock and Roll Deli and Grill of West Chicago offers a variety of awe inspiring meal options. A family owned deli operation dedicated to exceptional food and service set amidst rock and roll music and memorabilia, this establishment serves up...
The Processing Center: An Inside Look
Each volunteer session begins the same way. Volunteers, whether they be an energetic camp group screaming the lyrics to Sweet Caroline, corporate employees, or simply individuals looking to impactfully donate their time, all start their journey entering...
Drive N’ Dine: Algonquin Sub Shop
Algonquin Sub Shop* of Algonquin is one of the team’s top picks for a delectable sandwich. Algonquin Sub Shop, as seen on Chicago’s best with Brittney Payton, is home to one of the widest and unique sandwich collections the book squad has had the pleasure...
Books For Buckets Returns
Rose Pest Solutions and Northwestern Athletics have teamed up again to support Bernie’s Book Bank as a part of the Books for Buckets program. Throughout 2018-19 season Rose Pest Solutions donated 12 children’s books for every three-point basket the...
8 Pieces of Advice from 8 Interns
Bernie’s Book Bank is proud to offer internships to qualified high school and university students who are interested in using their time and talent to support our mission of increasing book ownership among at-risk Chicagoland children. Internship positions...
Back-to-School Book Donations
Back-to-school season is on the mind. Talk of how fast summer went and how people can’t believe it’s already the end of August is coupled with a lengthy list of all things to do before the school year is in full swing. As you start the process of clearing...
Drive N’ Dine: Tony’s Subs
Tony’s Subs of Deerfield* is a Bernie’s Book Bank driver find that deserves a week in the spotlight. Proud to claim they have the best subs hot or cold in town, our drivers can’t help but think they just might be right. This local sub shop has been run by...
Drive N’ Dine: Papa Marcos
Papa Marcos* is a family-owned gem of a Mediterranean style eatery located in downtown Waukegan. Their top-notch service delivers on their mission to provide an informal dining experience that makes people feel at home. Papa Marcos serves up everything...
Volunteer Downtown at Macy’s
Bernie’s Book Bank is heading downtown August 26-30 for a unique volunteer opportunity at Macy’s on State Street in Chicago. Gather friends, family, and coworkers for this convenient opportunity to give back to Chicagoland children without the hassle of...
Patrick Mannelly Award Watchlist
Bernie's Book Bank and the Patrick Mannelly Award have partnered together to shine a spotlight on the long snapper position in college football. Bernie's Book Bank is the charity beneficiary of the Patrick Mannelly Award. In its inaugural year, this award...
Drive N’ Dine: Antioch Pizza Shop
Antioch Pizza Shop* of Antioch is yet another esteemed stop for the Bernie’s Book Bank team. With humble beginnings of a shared recipe by friends, this easygoing nearby pizza joint has grown into a local crave haven. Their top-notch pizza is dressed with...
Drive N’ Dine: Luke’s of Lake Bluff
Luke’s of Lake Bluff* is a fellow Lake Bluff establishment. This family restaurant takes pride in its motto, “We don’t serve fast food, we serve good food fast,” and we can’t help but agree! As well as having one of the widest menu selections around, they...
Creating Community: Chapter 3
"Everything happens for a reason." It's the type of phrase that a freshman in college gets tattooed on their ribs in flowing script, the type of phrase a grandparent optimistically proclaims when a child spills their freshly prepared ice cream all over the...
A Note-Worthy Story: Bill Nixon
His name is Bill Nixon. If you have ever stepped foot into the processing center of Bernie's Book Bank, you have seen him. Alright, maybe you haven't seen him. But you have definitely heard him. It is the voice that many volunteers hear before, during and...
Drive n’ Dine: Jay’s Beef
Jay’s Beef of Harwood Heights is one of a plethora of Italian Beef joints found in the Chicagoland area. However, this long-time family run restaurant’s mouthwatering array of hotdogs, sausage beef combos, cheese fries, poppers, cheese puffs and tamales...
Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois: Future Educators Give Back
This week started off with a kick as the processing center was filled with many eager Golden Apple Scholars. These incoming college freshmen, although diverse, are all connected through their shared goal to apply their passions towards becoming the next...
Drive n’ Dine
Collection and distribution, led by our team of drivers, are key components in executing Bernie’s Book Bank mission to increase book ownership among at-risk Chicagoland children. With 6 counties served, our humble team of 6 drivers log approximately 63,000...
10th Anniversary Celebration
The Bernie’s Book Bank 10th Anniversary Celebration kicked off with a 10-hour Volunteer-A-Thon on Saturday, July 13th. Longtime volunteers gathered with new volunteers to help sort, sticker and pack books for the 360,000 at-risk Chicagoland children we...
Creating Community: Chapter 2
The Lake Forest High School Transition Program is designed to prepare students with disabilities, aged 18-22, with the "social, vocational, and personal management skills" necessary to become an engaged and supportive component of their communities. One of...
Creating Community: Chapter 1
The doors slide open to another group of Wednesday volunteers at 9:30 AM. Corporate workers from the surrounding area shuffle in, wearily rubbing their eyes. Alongside them, middle-school aged students excitedly run circles around their teachers. It is the...
2019 AbbVie Week of Possibilities
AbbVie Week of possibilities is an annual tradition in which 9,000 dedicated employees donate their time and talent to local communities worldwide. Bernie’s Book Bank has been lucky enough to reap the benefits of AbbVie’s selfless efforts for the past four...
Press inquiries
If you’d like to learn more about Bernie’s Book Bank, please email or call 847.780.7323
