Who is BOOK-A-FRIEND?
BOOK-A-FRIEND (BAF) is a 501(c) (3) not for profit organization which was founded in 2007. It is the official event organizer of the Kansas City Literary Festival (KCLF). The name, BOOK-A-FRIEND, is a reflection of the passion many people hold for books which when read feels intently like 'sharing with a friend'. It suggests one's love of literature and attending literary events/book club gatherings where you can actually make new friends. “Reading is a very personal experience. Intimate when shared. It can open one up to never-ending worlds and real people that you can spend a lifetime exploring, learning about and enjoying," according to BOOK-A-FRIEND founder and president, David Ernst.
Under his guidance, BAF seeks to fulfill its mission which is dedicated to enhancing the literary landscape of a community. Through the establishment of an annual festival or singular events, BOOK-A-FRIEND focuses its attention upon the community and encourages and emphasizes reading on a daily basis.
"We enjoy discovering great literary communities like Kansas City," Ernst says. "To help a community organize their collective potential and then work with them to truly bring literature to the forefront of their arts offerings is a thrilling experience. It provides a deep satisfaction and sense of purpose. Great civic pride results, not to mention people getting excited about reading more and more as a lifestyle."
BOOK-A-FRIEND invests time, energy, and its resources to impact the community far beyond just the festival itself. "We look for ways to work with schools, libraries, literary and community organizations, artistic groups and local businesses on a year round basis." The Road to the Festival concept instituted in 2008 is a fine example. Furthermore notes Ernst, "Five weeks prior to the festival, we set out a schedule of terrific literary events organized by our great diversity of partners. We help them promote their individual events in return for allowing us to promote the upcoming KCLF. What happens is the mutual creation of tremendous grassroots awareness for their literary events and organizations as well as our festival programming."
Ernst hopes that Kansas City embraces BOOK-A-FRIEND's efforts and continues to support the festival, not only as it did in 2008, but in years to come. "We want it annualized and become an event that the community takes real pride in, and something it will look forward to each year."
For more information on BOOK-A-FRIEND, or to make a tax deductible contribution, please visit the "Get Involved" page.
