Caribousmom: Featured Blog

By Wendy Robards

CARIBOUSMOM

reading a good book with a furchild by my side

Gone Reading: A Philanthropic Enterprise (and a Special Coupon Code for You!)

Gone Reading is just the kind of company I enjoy supporting. They are a philanthropic enterprise founded in 2011, which markets a line of products for readers and book lovers. The company donates 100% of after-tax profits to provide new funding for libraries around the world. Yes, you read that correctly: 100%.

Check out their page which describes their charitable mission.

We believe that when people have open access to great reading materials, life always changes for the better. When libraries and reading materials are made available, people and their communities thrive through increased opportunity and self-empowerment. - from the Gone Reading website -

The bulk of charitable contributions benefit three organizations: READ Global, Ethiopia Reads, and BiblioWorks. Since its founding, Gone Reading International has been run completely by volunteers, with no salary costs incurred to date. No compensation, salary or dividends have been paid to company owners/founders Brad & Eileen Wirz. Most recently the organization underwrote a new community library in Ethiopia.

The Gebeta Community Children's Library, as it's known, was developed by Ethiopia Reads, an amazing non-profit that we've helped support since GoneReading launched in 2011. They approached us about the project in August, and I knew we could make it work. Ethiopia Reads already had the space lined up, conveniently located near their office in Addis Ababa. We wrote them a check and the library was outfitted and staffed in less than a month. Amazing! - from the Gone Reading website -

There are lots of great things over on the Gone Reading site: Why not check out the Gone Reading Blog and their Resources for Readers?

When I was contacted recently about trying one of Gone Reading's products and providing a review, I did not hesitate. First, their site is really user-friendly. It was easy for me to browse their terrific reading products which include t-shirts, book accessories, calendars, home decor, games, stationary, and more ... all with a bookish theme. I selected one of their Reading Woman products: a 2014 Engagement Calendar.

I am always on the lookout for engagement calendars with unique artwork which also give me plenty of space to write. This calendar is 6? x 8 ¼" and printed using soy-based inks on FSC® certified paper, which means the paper has been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council™ and manufactured by an FSC® certified printer. (FSC® certification promotes responsible forest management by ensuring that forestry practices are environmentally responsible, socially equitable, and economically viable.) Product description:

This 2014 Engagement Calendar features 20 paintings by famous artists, including Gustave Caillebotte, Sir John Lavery, and Edward Hopper.

Also included are 57 weekly grids and 13 full-page monthly grids; double-page spreads of 2014 and 2015 yearly grids; a full 2014 calendar on the cover flaps; a list of international holidays; a world time zone map; a year planner with US, UK, and Canadian holidays; pages for notes; and a personal information page.

The result is a gorgeous, high quality calendar. Here is some of the artwork (click on each image to enjoy a larger view):

I really want to promote a company that gives back ... and there are so many great products on Gone Reading which would make fun stocking stuffers or gifts for the readers in your life. SO, I am very happy to be able to offer my readers a special coupon code worth 25% off on the Gone Reading site.

TO GET YOUR 25% DISCOUNT

Use this code at checkout: caribou25
Coupon code is good for the total cost of the entire shopping cart, not including shipping.
Coupon code is good for any/all merchandise on the site and can be used an unlimited number of times before it expires at the end of the year.[2013]

That's it! I hope you find something wonderful -- and I would love to hear your thoughts, comments and what you bought if you want to share with me!

Happy Reading!

Please enjoy more from Wendy Robards at Caribousmom.