While completing his senior year at the University of Maryland, Founder Rick Tamno read The Other Wes Moore while researching mass incarceration. The book sharpened his understanding of how opportunity, mentorship and education can redirect a young person’s future.
Rick organized an opportunity for students to meet Congressman John Lewis during the national book tour for March: Book Three. Watching young people engage with a civil rights icon reinforced that books can inspire dreams, leadership and action.
That experience became the foundation of the J.C. Tamno Books Foundation: ensuring children, regardless of birthplace, have access to books that educate, inspire and empower.
The Foundation connects home libraries, author experiences, youth authorship, community literacy, public dialogue and international book access into one coherent mission.
Donors and partners deserve clear evidence of stewardship. The Foundation is building a public accountability library for annual reports, nonprofit filings, campaign updates and program results.
Gerald Evans provided seed funding in 2017 when the Foundation was still an idea and has remained a steadfast champion of literacy, education and community investment.
Support through the Global Social Justice Fellowship helped make expansion into Africa possible, catalyzing partnerships and book distribution in underserved communities.
A founding financial supporter providing resources and strategic advisory for operations, program development and literacy-equity initiatives.
