Have you heard? April 12 is YALSA’s first Booze for Books event.

What? What’s Booze for Books?

It’s a fundraising event in support of Books for Teens which focuses on raising money to get books into the hands of needy young adults.

How do you get involved?

The idea is that people around the country, and maybe around the world, will sponsor a Booze for Books fundraising event on April 12. Events can come in all shapes and sizes. You might have a book discussion group that night and ask those who attend to donate an amount of their choice to Books for Teens. Or, you might have a happy hour at your home and raffle off a prize to attendees. You could host something at a local bar or restaurant and raise funds via a cover charge. Or, you could have a progressive party and at each participating location have an auction.

The choice is yours, but YALSA doesn’t want you to have to figure it all out on your own. That’s why there is a brand new fundraising guide that gives you lots of information about how to fundraise for YALSA, what Books for Teens is all about, and ideas for types of events you might host in your community. The guide even includes thank you templates and donation forms. And, there are recipes for book themed cocktails created just for Booze for Books.

And speaking of Booze for Books cocktails, why not create book themed cocktails for your Booze for Books event? We’ve got a Pinterest Board ready for your photos and recipes. Snap a picture of your specially created cocktail and post it on the Board. Or, grab an image of the cover of the book that inspired your recipe and post that along with the recipe. Maybe your book-themed cocktail will be tested and tasted by those in another part of the country.

We’ve also put together a Google Map for people who plan on participating in Booze for Books to let others know about their event. Check out the map and add your pin. Along with your pin feel free to include details about what type of activity you will include at your event and how you plan to raise funds for Books for Teens at your Booze for Books celebration. If you don’t yet know what you are going to do at your event, feel free to pin your location without details and you can add the details later. It will be great to see where all the events are going to take place on April 12.

Over the next several weeks you’ll hear more about Booze for Books here on the YALSAblog, on YALSA’s Books for Teens Facebook page, and on other social media outlets. Talk with your friends and colleagues about the event and get started planning what you are going to do. You don’t want to miss the first ever Bookze for Books.

If you would like to donate to Books for Teens outside of a special event you can do so via the Facebook Books for Teens page or send a donation by check to YALSA, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611, attention: Books for Teens.

If you have any questions feel free to ask them in the comments or send me an email at lbraun@leonline.com.