I'm absolutely thrilled to be running my second NYC Marathon this year in support of the incredible Brooklyn Book Bodega!

Brooklyn Book Bodega is a wonderful organization in my neighborhood dedicated to getting books into more children's homes throughout New York. Research has shown that the simple fact of having books in children's homes vastly improves their mental health, literacy rates, economic prospects, and much, much more. In just these past seven years since Brooklyn Book Bodega's founding, they've managed to help more than 260,000 New Yorkers start or add to their home libraries with 750,000 books. That's to say (if you're wondering why you should donate again after having done so just two years ago), in just two years they have distributed an additional 300,000 books to twice as many New Yorkers as they had in the five years before. They are making a huge difference to children's lives and hopes for the future, and you can too with a donation to them through my marathon fundraiser.

Running a second NYC marathon for Brooklyn Book Bodega has huge personal significance for me. My father, whose library of old books was a wonder to me from a young age and no doubt laid the groundwork for me to become a writer, was an avid marathoner. He met my mother while training, meaning I would not exist at all if not for their shared passion for marathoning. He passed away before he could ever see me run this beloved race of his, but I felt certain last time go around that he would be incredibly proud of my doing so, especially on behalf of an organization striving to inspire the same love of learning and books that he inspired in me. It was one of the most memorable and beautiful experiences of my life, and running the NYC Marathon in support of Brooklyn Book Bodega again is one of the very best ways I can honor his memory.

I am committed to raising $5,000 between now and October 26, 2026. I know there are all too many worthy causes to support in these troubled times, but I would be so grateful if you'd consider supporting Brooklyn Book Bodega. Any amount, big or small, goes a long way.

Here's what your donation will achieve:

- $25 will provide books for five children

- $50 will contribute a shelf of books to a classroom library

- $100 will give a family a complete at-home library

- $500 will sponsor an entire library for at-risk youth

- $1,000 will provide two educators with a year's worth of free books

If you work for a company or organization that matches your personal donations, please consider pursuing a match at the time of the donation to double your impact. 

Thanks so much for reading and for considering making a donation to a cause that means a lot to me. I hope to thank you in person soon, and to see as many of you as possible along the course on November 1!