Press Release: April 18, 2025
- Benay Hicks
- 21 minutes ago
- 2 min read
For Immediate Release
Contact: Benay Hicks, Chief External Relations Officer
857-225-5039
Book Harvest and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Collaborate to Bring Books to Families Across the State
Durham, NC (April 2025) - Book Harvest, a Durham-based nonprofit internationally recognized for transforming children’s literacy, is collaborating with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) to engage with families throughout all 100 counties in North Carolina. Through this collaboration, Blue Cross NC will offer a variety of free children’s books provided by Book Harvest at family-facing community events statewide. The partnership reflects both organizations’ shared commitment to fostering literacy and strengthening connections between childhood reading and lifelong health.
“At Book Harvest, we know that literacy begins at birth, in the home, powered by parents and nourished by books,” said Ginger Young, Founder and CEO of Book Harvest. “We’re thrilled to partner with Blue Cross and Blue Shield NC to ensure that families across North Carolina have abundant access to books that inspire and empower young readers.”
Blue Cross NC will play a vital role in providing access to these books at events throughout the year. By working closely with Book Harvest, they aim to ensure that families in every community — regardless of geography — can benefit from an abundant supply of children’s books.
“This partnership underscores the power of books to bring families together and promote early literacy and health outcomes for children,” said Angela Boykin, CEO of Healthy Blue, Blue Cross NC’s Medicaid Managed Care plan. “We are proud to work with Book Harvest to connect families with resources that set the foundation for a lifetime of success.”
This statewide collaboration marks a significant milestone in Book Harvest’s ongoing work to create flourishing ecosystems of literacy within easy reach of every child and to strengthen the connection between literacy and lifelong health.
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About Book Harvest:
Book Harvest’s mission is books for every child, support for every parent, and literacy for every community. Internationally recognized for its work to transform children's literacy, Book Harvest has provided more than 2.5 million books to children and families since its founding in 2011, ensuring that children grow up from birth owning an abundance of books and that parents have the tools and power to ignite and strengthen their children's literacy for a lifetime. With programs that are grounded in evidence, Book Harvest believes that literacy starts at birth, in the home, powered by parents, and nourished with books. Learn more at bookharvest.org.
Access photos, logos, videos, and b-roll: https://bookharvest.org/media-kit/
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina:
Blue Cross NC, the leading not-for-profit health plan in North Carolina, is committed to making health care more affordable, easier to navigate and accessible for all. Since 1933, the health insurer has created programs and initiatives to provide North Carolinians the opportunity to be healthy. Blue Cross NC serves its customers and communities of more than 4.2 million members, including approximately 1.1 million on behalf of other Blue Plans. Blue Cross NC is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Visit Blue Cross NC online at bluecrossnc.com. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.