“ If we all did just one small thing, even just a small thing, think what a difference we could make in the world.”  - Neal Shine, December 6, 2006.

Remember the books you loved as a child?  Perhaps you still have favorites that you recall with fondness and have read to the children in your life.  This is an opportunity to provide a gift to children who don’t have new books—maybe even any books—in their home.  Many children are in homes with adults who are not accomplished readers or who simply can’t afford the luxury of book purchases in their challenged economic situation.

Leadership Oakland is collecting new books for children of all ages (newborn through High School).  You can help.

To donate books, simply drop them by the Leadership Oakland Office, 4555 Investment Drive, Suite 302, Troy MI 48098.  If you would like to make a donation towards a purchase of children's books click here.  

For questions or if you have a large volume of books, please contact Book Drive Coordinator, Pat Machgan (248) 299-9333 to work out a convenient transfer option.

All books received and distributed through Leadership Oakland will be tagged with a label reading:

“In memory of Neal Shine, one of the world’s great leaders.”

Donate now towards a purchase of children's books

Neal Shine Book Drive—the story

In October of 2006, Neal Shine, respected journalist and former publisher of the Detroit Free Press, addressed a group of Leadership Oakland (LO) participants.  He described his personal commitment to ensuring that children throughout the Detroit area would have a new book to call their own.  Neal gathered the books and personally delivered them to individual homes and classrooms.  He suggested that people may want to consider helping out by donating a book for this purpose.  When you challenge Leadership Oakland to make a difference, stand back!  Throughout the next few weeks books poured into the office and in December, at the LO “Media Day” session, where Neal was a featured speaker, a mountain of books were presented to him for distribution.  An emotional Neal accepted the books on behalf of the children who would receive them.  He challenged the group that day by stating, “ If we all did just one small thing, even just a small thing, think what a difference we could make in the world.” Neal led by example and inspired leadership in others.

In early April, 2007, the world lost one of its great leaders with the passing of Neal Shine.
But when a community torch has been lit, it is hard to extinguish.  Leadership Oakland continues to carry out this simple yet powerful mission to make a difference to children by providing those in need a new book to call their own.  LO members and affiliates, as well as groups and business have stepped up to donate a book, a pile of books, or make a donation to purchase new books.  Who knows how these books, given in memory of a great leader, might impact the children to whom they are given.  Perhaps tomorrow’s leaders will emerge carrying a torch for community service that was ignited through one small act-the gift of a book to love.