Opening a New Chapter
Robyn Strumpf knows the value of snuggling up with a good book. But as founder and CEO of a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting literacy, it’s surprising that this college freshman finds the time to even crack open a textbook.
In the past seven years, Strumpf has single-handedly donated more than 18,000 books and countless handmade quilts to hundreds of schools and organizations through her creation, Project Books and Blankies.
The idea was to encourage children to read by bringing together the gift of books with the comforts of a homemade quilt.
“I just remember how much it helped when my parents sat down with me with a cozy blanket and a book,” said Strumpf, who launched her project at the age of 12 after fighting her own childhood battle with reading.
It’s hard to believe this avid reader and mechanical engineering major ever struggled with the task, but Strumpf’s personal triumphs inspired her to give back to other children and show them that not only is reading possible, but it’s fun.
After years of working on a nationwide scale, Strumpf now plans to go global. She has assembled detailed starter kits to help others across the country begin their own programs, providing everything from tips on collecting donations to basic quilt patterns. She also has sent more than 1,000 books overseas to childrens’ organizations in South Africa, India and the Middle East.
“It has gotten so much bigger than I ever thought possible,” she said.
The efforts have attracted substantial media attention, with photo spreads and articles in Teen Magazine, USA Today and the Los Angeles Times. Strumpf has received many awards and honors as well as special commendations from President George H.W. Bush, his son and President Clinton.
Most recently, she was the recipient of the second annual Neighborhood Excellence Initiative Award from Bank of America. Her award was a $5,000 grant to use toward Project Books and Blankies.
With the money, Strumpf has her sights set on starting a new chapter of her organization at USC. She is working on a book drive with her residence hall, Parkside Suites, and would like to reach out to the schools in her new neighborhood. Strumpf also is formulating plans to get the USC Viterbi School of Engineering involved with a science literacy program.
“I want to get more people at USC involved to show them how much fun it is to give to others,” she said.
To learn more about Project Books and how volunteers can help, visit www.booksandblankies.com.
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Los Angeles ran an op-ed by Bill Deverell of the USC College about looking to the past in order to move on to the future. “You can do better, Los Angeles. You’ve heard it before: admonishment from the lecture hall pulpit or the pages of a book or magazine. History matters. You should pay closer attention,” Deverell wrote. “The history of Los Angeles reflects and illuminates American and world history all at once. With a little effort, something powerful happens: historical sensibility provides perspective on the here and now. Who wouldn’t want that?” The column is the first in a series for the magazine’s new CityThink section, L.A. Observed reported.
SoCal Minds featured the USC Good Neighbors Campaign, in which USC faculty and staff donate money for programs benefiting the neighborhoods surrounding the USC campus. The program was launched under the direction of USC President Steven B. Sample in reaction to the Los Angeles riots, the story noted. The campaign raised a record-breaking $1.2 million in donations this past year, despite tough economic times, the article stated. The story reported that several university units had 100 percent participation, including the USC Rossier School, KUSC-FM, the USC Fisher Museum of Art, the Office of the Treasurer, the Office of the Senior Vice President, Administration, the Health Sciences Libraries and USCard Services.
CNN cited research conducted by Adam Rose of the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development for USC’s Homeland Security Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events. Rose’s study found that the standard economic costs of the 9/11 attacks, estimated at $25 billion, were exceeded by the costs of behavioral reactions far from the site of the attack (for example, an additional $85 billion due to a decrease in demand for air travel).
Variety reported that the 22nd annual USC Libraries Scripter Award was given to “Up in the Air” novelist Walter Kirn and to USC alumnus Jason Reitman and Shelton Turner, who adapted Kirn’s book for the screen. In his acceptance speech, Reitman noted that his father, Ivan Reitman, used USC’s Doheny Memorial Library as a stand-in for the New York Public Library in “Ghostbusters.” The Wrap noted that Catherine Quinlan, dean of USC Libraries, emceed the ceremony.
National Public Radio’s “13.7” ran a commentary by K.C. Cole of the USC Annenberg School about the role of science in diplomacy. “We all know that the technology produced from scientific research can make international conflicts more deadly than ever. But can science help stop war?” Cole said. She mentioned that she recently took part in a USC Center on Public Diplomacy conference on science diplomacy and the prevention of conflict.
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