News & Media
Check out the latest news from Bernie's Book Bank!
The story grows on at the 2019 Chicago Flower & Garden Show
The book-themed adventure continued at the 2019 Chicago Flower & Garden Show titled, "FlowerTales: The Story Grows On.” Stunning gardens and creative floral displays turned Navy Pier into a springtime haven for Chicagoland. Bernie’s Book Bank had the...
Astronaut and Author to speak at 2019 Book Lovers’ Events
Bernie’s Book Bank, the leading provider of books to at-risk Chicagoland children, will host its spring benefit on May 3rd, 2019. The Book Lovers’ Events, held at Bernie’s Book Bank in Lake Bluff, are two signature events featuring an award-winning...
2019 Volunteer-A-Thon
The 2019 Volunteer-A-Thon was a success! For 12 hours on February 1 and 2, volunteers of all ages and abilities sorted, stickered and packed books for the at-risk Chicagoland children we serve. New for this year’s event, volunteers had the chance to...
2018 Book Lovers’ City Lunch
Book lovers from across Chicagoland united in support of Bernie’s Book Bank on Friday, November 16 for the 4th Annual Book Lovers’ City Lunch. As the leading provider of quality books to at-risk children throughout Chicagoland, Bernie's Book Bank was proud...
Race car drivers clock laps for Bernie’s Book Bank
What do race cars and Bernie’s Book Bank have in common? While there is a possibility that some of the 300,000 at-risk Chicagoland children we serve may receive a book about racecars in their bag, all of the children benefit from the incredible “Laps for...
Spooktacular Volunteering
Join Bernie's Book Bank for a spooktacular volunteer session! Jam along to the Monster Mash as you prepare BOOks for the at-risk Chicagoland children Bernie's Book Bank serves. Come dressed in your best costume for a Halloween costume contest (open to the...
Books for Buckets benefits Bernie’s Book Bank
Bernie’s Book Bank is proud to be the beneficiary of “Books For Buckets,” an initiative to promote book ownership in the local community by Rose Pest Solutions and Northwestern Athletics. Rose Pest Solutions, as part of the Books for Buckets program, will...
Hank Phillippi Ryan to speak at 2018 Book Lovers’ City Lunch
You’re invited! Join Bernie’s Book Bank for Book Lovers’ City Lunch on November 16th at the Aon Center. The event, generously hosted by KPMG, will benefit the at-risk Chicagoland children Bernie’s Book Bank serves. This year’s featured speaker is...
2018 Birdies & Books
A total of 220 players took to the green on Monday, August 27 for the annual Birdies & Books Charity Golf Classic. It was a beautiful (and hot) day at Onwentsia Club and proved to be a competitive day on the course. Founder and Chief Advancement...
Golden Apple Scholars Volunteer at Bernie’s Book Bank
Think there are a lot of people in this photo? Now picture double the number of eager teachers! Earlier this summer, Bernie’s Book Bank hosted more than 200 volunteers from the Golden Apple Foundation, making it one of the largest volunteers sessions in...
Bernie’s Book Bank breaks Guinness World Record
History has been made! Bernie’s Book Bank and International Keynote Speaker, Ryan Avery, broke the Guinness World Record for the largest book pyramid on Friday, July 27, 2018. The colorful structure towers over the processing center at Bernie’s Book Bank...
Bernie’s Book Bank to attempt world record for largest book pyramid
Bernie’s Book Bank and International Keynote Speaker, Ryan Avery, are teaming up to attempt a new Guinness World Record for the largest book pyramid on July 27, 2018 at Bernie’s Book Bank in Lake Bluff, Ill. The current world record for the largest book pyramid stands...
2018 AbbVie Week of Possibilities
This year, AbbVie hosted it’s fifth annual “Week of Possibilities” global volunteering program, June 18-22. For the third year, AbbVie has selected Bernie’s Book Bank as one of their nonprofit volunteer partners in Lake County, Illinois. AbbVie volunteers...
The story grows on: 2019 Chicago Flower & Garden Show partnership
We’re proud to announce that Bernie’s Book Bank has been selected as the charitable partner for the 2019 Chicago Flower & Garden Show. The 2019 show titled, “FLOWERTALES: The Story Grows On” is a continuation of the 2018 show, “FLOWERTALES: Every...
Bernie’s Book Bank partners with Ravinia Festival
Bernie's Book Bank is partnering with Ravinia, North America's oldest music festival, to collect children's books for the 300,000 at-risk children we serve. During all Kids Concerts this summer, bring your gently used children's books to the Bernie's Book...
Summer 2018 Book Distributions
Bernie’s Book Bank sources, processes, and distributes quality children’s books to at-risk Chicagoland children. Each child receives 12 books throughout the school year, but our mission does not stop when the school year ends. Bernie’s Book Bank works...
2018 Appreciation Night
Yesterday evening, we welcomed Bernie’s Book Bank supporters to be our guests for an evening of appreciation. Donors, sponsors, board members, associate board members and 50 Hour Club members gathered for sweet treats and Terlato Wine in celebration of...
Bernie’s Book Bank receives 2018 McGuffin Grant
We’re proud to announce that Bernie’s Book Bank has been awarded the 2018 McGuffin Grant! Each year, McGuffin Creative Group, Inc. selects one nonprofit organization to receive $25,000 in creative services. The grant is an opportunity to partner with the...
Bernie’s Book Bank Names New CEO
To support the ongoing growth of Bernie’s Book Bank, the organization today announced it has appointed Darrin Utynek as Chief Executive Officer, a new role to the organization. Founder Brian Floriani will transition to Founder and Chief Advancement...
2018 Book Lovers’ Events
On Friday, May 4, more than 600 guests gathered for the inaugural Book Lovers’ Breakfast and 7th Annual Book Lovers’ Lunch at Bernie’s Book Bank. This was the largest and most successful Book Lovers’ benefit in history! The event kicked off with...
Books in bloom at 2018 Chicago Flower & Garden Show
The 2018 Chicago Flower & Garden Show titled "FlowerTales: Every Garden Has A Story To Tell" brought the adventure of books to life with an array of creative gardens at Navy Pier. The theme of this year’s show coincided perfectly with us as the proud...
2018 Volunteer-A-Thon
Volunteers showed up in full force for the 2nd Annual Volunteer-A-Thon on February 16 and 17. For 12 hours volunteers of all ages and abilities filled the processing center working diligently to sort, sticker and pack books for the children we serve....
2017 Book Lovers’ City Lunch
The 3rd Annual Book Lovers’ City Lunch brought together bookworms from all across Chicago on Tuesday, November 7 in support of Bernie’s Book Bank. Bernie's Book Bank was humbled to host Henderson School Assistant Principal Tawanda Miller who shared the...
10 Million Books
The Bernie's Book Bank team is inspired, grateful and excited to announce the distribution of our 10 MILLIONTH BOOK since 2009. Achieving this milestone was possible due to the generosity of supporters like you! Volunteers, book donors, investors, event...
2017 Birdies & Books
Golfers teed off on Monday, August 28 for the annual Birdies & Books Charity Golf Classic to benefit the at-risk children served by Bernie’s Book Bank. Bernie Jr. and Brian shared "right now means everything" and encouraged everyone to live in the...
Five Facts About the Literacy Crisis
Literacy is quite possibly one of the most important skills someone can have. If you couldn't read, you wouldn't be able to write texts and emails, read instructions, or navigate the internet! Keep reading for 5 facts about the literacy crisis. 1. Reading is...
New Trier Township Collects 3,350 Children’s Books
New Trier Township embarked upon a new program this summer, forging a partnership with Lake Bluff based Bernie's Book Bank, a non-profit that collects gently used and new children's books and redistributes them to at- risk kids across Illinois. "We saw this as an...
#MeetMonday – William Blair
It's #MeetMonday. This week, we'd like to introduce you to our friends at William Blair. Bernie's Book Bank Community Days, happening all summer long at multiple Chicagoland locations, are made possible due to the generosity of William Blair. We at Bernie's Book...
Book Lovers Help Flooded School
Another flood has hit Round Lake School District after the devastating rainfall earlier this month. This time, however, it’s a flood of donations – specifically, books. Two Round Lake schools, W.J. Murphy Elementary and Raymond Ellis Elementary, suffered significant...
Battle of the Books: Legal Edition!
The 2017 Battle of the Books: Legal Edition Deadlines: Registration ends: August 11th Materials from Bernie's Book Bank will be delivered by: August 31st Book Drive begins: September 1st Book Drive ends: September 30th Winner Announced: October 15th Can your firm beat...
Chicago Organizations Feed, Educate Chicago Students
During the school year many students depend on free or low-cost breakfast and lunch. Unfortunately, many of those children go hungry during the summer. So the great Chicago Food Depository is helping to bridge the gap. They are also partnering with Bernie's Book Bank...
Frequently Asked Questions #2
Who can volunteer at Bernie's Book Bank? Everyone! We welcome volunteers of all ages and abilities. Bring your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers to volunteer and experience how good helping others feels. To find out more about when you can volunteer at...
First Annual Volunteer-A-Thon 2017
Thank you to everyone who chose to be a part of our first Annual Volunteer-A-Thon! We had 12 hours to sort, sticker, and pack 12 quality books for the hundreds of thousands of children we serve annually for 12 years. Our volunteers enjoyed family, food, and fun over...
Press inquiries
If you’d like to learn more about Bernie’s Book Bank, please email or call 847.780.7323
