Book sale benefits AAUW scholarships for area women
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The American Association of University Women, Naperville Area Branch, will hold its annual used book sale June 18-21 at Neuqua Valley High School, 2360 95th St., Naperville.
The sale provides funding for the group's national Education Foundation and local education scholarships, spokeswoman Linnea High said.
The local scholarship is given to a woman who has had an interrupted college experience.
High said the group decided to support a nontraditional student to emphasize its mission statement of equity in education for all women and girls.
You can get a sneak peek - for $5 - at what's available during a pre-sale from 5 to 9 p.m. June 18 at Neuqua.
The sale continues from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 19 and 20 (with discounts for school personnel with IDs) and wraps up with the closeout sale from 9 a.m. to noon June 21 when most books are half price or $6 a bag.
The club is accepting book drop-offs at numerous locations, including:
The Naperville Unit District 203 administration building, 203 W. Hillside, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays through Friday (smaller quantities) and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday (any quantity).
U-Store-It, 12408 Industrial Drive, Plainfield: ongoing through June 12 during regular hours, Any quantity is accepted.
Neuqua Valley High School, 2360 95th St.: drop materials off from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 14 at Door 23 on the school's south side.
The club accepts books, CDs, DVDs and newer college textbooks, she said, but not magazines, encyclopedias or Reader's Digest condensed books.
Q. What is your group's mission?
A. AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education and research.
Q. How do you work toward accomplishing that goal?
A. Through education programs and research done by the national AAUW organization, in cooperation with state AAUW's, our goal is to improve the lives of women and girls.
At the national level, our organization has been deeply involved in lobbying our government to address critical women's public policy issues.
Q. Who do you serve?
A. Issues important to AAUW impact women and men, boys and girls. These are not just issues that affect only women.
Our organization's membership is open to all graduates holding a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
We also welcome graduates holding an associate or equivalent degree from a qualified institution. Our members are from Naperville, as well as Lisle, Plainfield, Romeoville, Joliet, Aurora and Shorewood.
AAUW is an international organization with branches in many communities in the U.S. and around the world.
Q. When and why did the organization start?
A. Our branch was founded on April 20, 1956, with 20 members. It currently has 85.
Q. What kind of successes have you had?
A. Since 1971, our branch has provided an annual scholarship for a local adult female completing her bachelor's degree. The funds for this scholarship come from the annual book sale.
We also support AAUW's Education Foundation, which provides graduate level scholarships, international fellowships, and community grants.
Locally, Naperville AAUW members organize and lead "Great Decisions" for the community at the Naperville Public Library. The branch also maintains a tutor registry that is distributed to Naperville and surrounding libraries, as well as local school districts.
Q. What challenges does the AAUW face?
A. We want to top our book sale from last year so we will be able to contribute to the national AAUW Education Foundation, as well as fund more local scholarships.
Q. What do you wish the community at large knew about your organization?
A. Not only are we dedicated workers for equal rights and opportunities, but we also support each other and have fun together.
Q. How can readers get involved?
A. They can help us by donating to our book sale. New members are always welcome.
Vital statistics
Number of contacts: The tutor registry is distributed by teachers at conferences, as well as given to all who request it from the libraries. "Great Decisions" runs for six weeks at the library. Books are collected all year long, with the bigger book drive taking place in May and June.
Annual budget: For our branch, it's $22,728. The book sale raises about $7,500 for branch expenses and about $9,000 for local scholarships and our foundation contribution.
Sources of funding: Member dues for monthly programs, proceeds from the book sale fund scholarships, donations and other fundraising activities.
Amount donated to or raised for other organizations: AAUW Education Foundation, gift cards and needed items given to women's help organizations such as Families Helping Families, Family Shelter Service; volunteer time given to the DuPage County Children's Museum.
Number of full-time employees: None
Current donation wish list: Bring your books and join in the effort to provide educational opportunities to women and girls seeking to improve their lives.
Contact: www.aauw-il.org/naperville/book.htm