Hello friendly faces! It’s a new Chicago North Shore Moms spotlight brought to you in part by Mary Gifford of Gifford Law. We are so excited to introduce you to Kristen Daniels, an Arlington Heights mom of three and the executive director for a local non-profit, Bernie’s Book Bank, whose mission of children’s book ownership is demonstrated in the more than 27,000,000 books distributed to Title 1 schools and early childhood programs across Chicagoland.
Kristen is not new to the nonprofit world, having played an active role in everything from development and social responsibility, to education and literacy. In this interview, Kristen shares her love of nonprofits and her vision for Bernie’s Book Bank as they transition into a role as a national partner for children’s literacy. Whether you’re looking for ways to give back as an individual or a family, this purpose-driven mama is a source of inspiration for anyone looking to make a difference in their community. Welcome, Kristen!
Hi Kristen! Tell us about yourself.
Hi, I’m Kristen Daniels! I consider myself both blessed, and lucky. Born on the southside of Chicago, a proud Iowa Hawkeye and now a multitasking suburban wife and mother. The nonprofit world has taken me from Mayor Daley’s Office of Special Events to fundraising for the US Olympic Swim Team and on through social service, wellness and education-based organizations. Now my personal and professional passions collide at
Bernie’s Book Bank. It’s a dream come true.
What are one or two fun facts to know about you?
Fact #1 – Despite having three active kids and a spirited, loveable dog, who together manage to keep me on my toes, I have somehow not become a coffee drinker. I know it’s crazy, but here we are.
Fact #2 – I met my husband, Andy while we were in 6th grade. Even then, we shared a love of sports, school and being involved in entirely too many activities. All these years later, we are still avid learners, active in our neighborhood, the kids’ school and church. He coaches (everything), I drive carpool (everywhere) and I’m regularly teased about being the unofficial mayor of our hometown. I’ve never met a stranger.
What are your favorite local places, spaces to frequent?
I’m going to show my non-profit colors and highlight some of my favorite places to give back to the local community.
- Cradles to Crayons – With multiple donation sites in the north suburbs it’s easy to gather your gently used clothing and give them a second life with children who need them. And if you haven’t volunteered in their Chicago Giving Factory, it’s a must!
- Our family fostered dogs for a short while through Second City Canine Rescue, but another great organization is Paws Chicago. Sign up as a volunteer where you can play with, socialize, and help animals find their forever home.
- The library, any library. Escape with a book, research a new hobby or my personal favorite – take advantage of the Arlington Heights Memorial Library Makerspace.
- Can I say Bernie’s Book Bank? Yes, I work here, but even more I love to bring my family here to volunteer. My kids love sorting through the books and building bags of their favorites.
What are you reading and watching?
Like many of you, I have a stack of books by my bedside and work through them as quickly as I can, but not as fast as I’d like to. I recently finished Infectious Generosity which was a recommendation on one of Bill Gates’s recent lists. It’s a great book filled with real-life examples, like the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, and the power of people coming together in the digital age. On my watch list is “Ted Lasso” I can’t get enough of this show. I’m here for the characters, the story, and the heart. Sign me up for another season.
What’s one piece of professional advice you’ve gotten that’s guided you?
Be coachable! Being part of a team means leading sometimes and learning always, to do so well, you must be coachable.
Your mantra?
“The ones who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.” It’s a Steve Jobs quote and it has a permanent home on the wall in my office.
Let’s get down to business. Gush away about your endeavors, passion projects or volunteer positions.
It is a privilege to work in the public sector and to help be the face of solving the literacy crisis for children. That said, when I’m away from the office, my willingness to loudly support those that I believe in, doesn’t go away. I love nothing more than to be in the stands at my son’s hockey games, cheering my Irish dancing daughter on at a feis, or coaching from the bleachers of my youngest’s basketball games and swim meets.
Travel is another passion. You never have to ask me twice to take an adventure – concerts, the great outdoors, museums – if I can people watch and visit a new city, I’m all in.
You’re the Executive Director of Bernie’s Book Bank located in Lake Bluff. What makes Bernie’s Book Bank so special?
Bernie’s Book Bank holds a special place in my heart. As a mother of three children, I know firsthand the importance of having books in my home. Whether I’m reading aloud to my youngest before bedtime or sharing my favorite book with a friend, reading offers a way for me to connect, escape, and explore new worlds, all while creating meaningful moments with people I care about.
Reading is the single most important skill a child needs, yet many children lack access to books, especially books of their own. Bernie’s Book Bank is so special because it provides free quality books to local children so they can build their own personal libraries and experience the joy of owning a book. What makes Bernie’s Book Bank extra special is the team of volunteers, supporters, distribution partners, and team members who make all of this happen.
On any given day we have hundreds of volunteers of all ages and abilities in the Bernie’s Book Bank Processing Center sorting, stickering, and bagging books for children from birth to sixth grade. Volunteering at Bernie’s Book Bank is an experience like no other, and it’s inspiring to see how many people – individuals, families, groups, corporate teams, you name it – join us in our mission of children’s book ownership. If you haven’t checked it out, I encourage you to do so, it won’t disappoint.
That sounds amazing. Can you share more about how to get involved with Bernie’s Book Bank?
Absolutely! Volunteers power the wonderful work we do. Whether you want to organize a community book drive, donate your own children’s books, provide support through a donation, or volunteer in our Processing Center we appreciate it! You can learn more about ways to give on our website at berniesbookbank.org.
Bernie’s Book Bank recently announced an expansion to Milwaukee. Can you please share more about that effort?
Sure! The Greater Milwaukee area is our first chapter outside of Chicagoland. When we began distributing in the Greater Milwaukee area, we started with 20 schools, and since then have expanded to 60 schools, serving over 20,000 children and delivering over 160,000 free, age-appropriate, high-interest, and culturally relevant books. We recently conducted a 5-year randomized control trial in partnership with Milwaukee Public Schools. I bring this up, because it puts into context the power of book ownership and the impact of Bernie’s Book Bank. The report concluded with a statistically significant impact on student reading achievement, as well as positive impacts on related outcomes.
Even better, the effect appears to grow over time. We couldn’t be more excited to share these results! Ultimately it comes down to the fact that when children have books of their own, it’s not just about reading, it’s about opening doors to new ideas and creating a foundation for lifelong learning.
Anything else on the horizon for Bernie’s Book Bank?
Well, we continue to put mission first. Here in Chicagoland we serve more than 300,000 children, which is amazing, but we want to do more. Right now, we serve around 75% of eligible children in Chicagoland. Our goal is to serve 100%. Wouldn’t that be something if every single child in Chicagoland had books at home?
Is there anything else you’d like us to know about Bernie’s Book Bank?
Bernie’s Book Bank is doing great work, and I’m thankful to be a part of the magic. Children’s literacy is a solvable problem, and we would love for you to join us as a part of the solution. A few ideas:
Volunteer your time with your friends and family or organization or even as a team building activity with your place of employment.
Drop off books at our location: 917 N Shore Drive, Lake Bluff, IL 60044 *Back Door Book Drop Off Hours (9am-4pm).
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook and LinkedIn. We look forward to seeing you!
About our Meet of Mom Sponsor
A very heartfelt thank you to CNSMoms’ Meet a Mom sponsor, Lake Forest mom of three and owner of Gifford Law, a solo Estate Planning Firm (wills and trusts). Mary, we appreciate your support of local moms in our North Shore communities! Learn more about Mary by visiting her Meet a Mom spotlight here! Contact Mary directly here: [email protected].
