The success that is the Tucson Festival of Books (TFOB) is remarkable. Modeled after a similar event in Los Angeles, TFOB co-founders Bruce Beach and Bill Viner initially told a group of local literacy providers it could take three or four years before the festival might turn a profit, but that once it did, they would pump proceeds back into the community through local literacy organizations.
Nobody expected checks upwards of $150,000 to be written after each of the first two festivals, but that’s exactly what has happened.
Two of TFOB’s primary beneficiaries have been Reading Seed, an organization that trains and places reading “coaches” in 100 local elementary schools, and the Literacy for Life Coalition (LLC), a group of literacy providers, advocates and business leaders focusing on literacy as a cradle to grave endeavor.
These past two years, the LLC has been working with Southside neighborhood councils to establish what have become known as literacy zones. The South Park and Sunnyside Literacy Zones, funded with TFOB proceeds, have become vibrant centers for various educational activities. LLC collaborators have included the Pima County Library system, Pima College Adult Education, Reading Seed, Literacy Volunteers of Tucson (LVT), Stories that Soar and Make Way for Books. In addition to providing direct services to children and adults, the literacy zones also afford opportunities for neighborhood residents to volunteer and be a part of these community literacy efforts.
In addition to the money, literacy providers are also benefitting from the exposure they receive by being a part of the festival. “It’s more than just money,” exclaims Betty Stauffer, Literacy Volunteers of Tucson Executive Director and a member of the LLC Executive Board. “Last year we had 80 people come to us after the festival wanting to know how they could help or volunteer. We thought that was phenomenal!”
It should also be noted that the relationship with TFOB and the LLC is mutually beneficial. As an official TFOB co-sponsor, LLC organizations agree to provide 25 festival volunteers per organization, last year accounting for more than 200 of TFOB’s 1200 volunteers.
On March 12 and 13, more than 40,000 people — adults, kids, bookworms, academics, writers and writer wannabees, fans of particular authors and those simply curious — will descend upon the University of Arizona Mall and surrounding area. Over 300 authors will be on site participating in workshops, panel discussions, readings and book signings.
They will also share the space with several entertainment tents, a food court, a large children’s area and hundreds of vendor and non-profit organization booths, many of which will feature engaging, interactive activities, all having something to do with the expansive way Tucson is beginning to re-define literacy.
The event is family friendly, free and runs from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday, March 12 and 13. For more information or to volunteer visit TucsonFestivalofBooks.org or LiteracyForLifeAZ.org.
