Because traditional philanthropy alone will NOT solve the literacy crisis in America.
Being able to read is the most critical skill for anyone who wants to pursue happiness in America, yet more than 30 MILLION adult Americans cannot read or write and 61% of low-income families have ZERO books in their home – Beyond serving YOU, this is why BUKU Branded exists.
BUKU Branded is a social enterprise created to accelerate and amplify the awareness of and advance the cause for, LITERACY.
BUKU Branded defines NET PROFIT as revenue from all sources, minus ordinary business expenses, taxes and necessary working capital for continued growth.
Beneficiaries are proactively researched, identified, vetted and selected by BUKU Branded based on the criteria below. As such, there is NOT an open application process; we kindly ask literacy initiatives to respect this approach.
Deliver a literacy focused, direct service to children
Think BIG and have a commitment to an entrepreneurial culture, willing to take risks
Demonstrate a bias towards prevention over intervention
Show a focus on being effective, efficient, sustainable and scalable
Operate like a business and think like a brand
Maintain a compensation philosophy for their employees which matches the passion for their mission
The leading provider of quality (culturally relevant and highly engaging) books to under-served children in the Chicagoland area; serving more than 350,000 children annually. We also support Bernie’s Book Bank National Replication Effort to establish metropolitan-based children’s book banks in other major American cities.
*currently receiving $1,250 EVERY MONTH
Little Free Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving book access for all. There are more than 100,000 Little Free Library boxes in all 50 United States and beyond, sharing millions of books each year. A recipient of the 2020 World Literacy Award, Little Free Library utilizes its donor-driven Impact Library Program to bring little libraries full of books to under-resourced communities.
*currently receiving $1,250 EVERY MONTH
Read Alliance works to accelerate the educational trajectory of early elementary students through the power of teens who provide one-to-one literacy tutoring in under-resourced communities.
*currently receiving $1,250 EVERY MONTH
For over 20 years, Reading Partners has empowered students to succeed in reading and in life by engaging community volunteers to provide one-on-one tutoring. Since its founding, the national nonprofit organization has mobilized nearly 70,000 community volunteers to provide proven, individualized literacy tutoring to more than 65,000 elementary school students in nearly 450 under-resourced schools across ten states and the District of Columbia.
*currently receiving $1,250 EVERY MONTH
Christy Floriani – Owner & Steward
Christy is a champion of human rights and strives to live a life of service that lifts people up, empowers and launches greater access to resources.
She believes literacy and equitable quality education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty, improving our nation’s economy, and bridging the divide between the entitled and the impoverished.
She believes we all live our lives based on our beliefs and values.
Christy believes every person deserves to be seen, heard and valued…whether friend, neighbor or consumer.
Christy has a firm conviction that we vote with our dollars, accordingly, putting dollars in ethical and purpose-driven companies is a win-win.
Christy earned her M.S.W. (Master of Social Work) degree in 1999 and has worked with families for over 30 years. She’s a proud mom, an avid connector of people and purpose, a reader, and loves the outdoors.
Brian Floriani – Founder & Steward
Brian is a believer, a seeker, a reader, a dreamer and a doer; biased to action.
Raised in Dover, DE, Brian now resides in the Chicagoland area.
A recovering Golf Professional with an entomology degree, Brian feels grateful to have found his passion and his WHY – Literacy for All. Brian believes all people should have an equitable opportunity to pursue happiness and has dedicated his life to help ensure this is a reality in America.
At his core, he is an “Entrepreneur for Literacy”. In 2009, Brian founded Bernie’s Book Bank. Bernie’s Book Bank is a children’s book bank which serves more than 350,000 under-resourced Chicagoland children with 8 quality books per year from birth through 6th grade. The vision of Bernie’s Book Bank is to build an ultra-effective, efficient, sustainable and scalable children’s book bank model to be replicated in every major American city to assure all children have the ability to read their way to a better life. Brian remains an integral part of Bernie’s Book Bank in Chicagoland and will play a critical role in national replication efforts.
Brian enjoys doing ANYTHING with his children and immediate family, and feels blessed by all things LIFE presents, its triumphs and its trials.
Jonas Broner – Chief Steward, Production & Support
Jonas, a true veteran of the promotional products industry with two decades of experience, works tirelessly to ensure all clients experience seamless service. He is personally invested in various critical issues spanning animal rights to human rights. In looking for a way to give MORE back to his community, Jonas has partnered with BUKU Branded believing we can transform and inspire the promotional products industry to become altruistic and meaningful rather than just to turn a profit.
Jonas grew up on the Northshore of Chicago and acquired his tireless work ethic working at his father’s shoe store in Chicago. At age 11, he began working weekends in the family store. From that vantage point he saw how hard his father worked – 14 hours a day, 7 days a week – just to put food on the table.
He attended Niles North High School, was a three-sport athlete; drawing from inspirational coaches and being a part of a team, to learn the value of hard work, camaraderie, drive and discipline. Jonas attributes his success today to the many lessons he learned on the football field and wrestling mat. Jonas attended Illinois State University where he graduated with a degree in public relations. 20 years ago, he landed his first job out of college in the promotional products industry, has grown his business and expertise, and has never looked back.
Lidia Wojtusiak – Steward, Production & Support
Lidia Wojtusiak strives to make a positive impact in the world with her passionate, entrepreneurial spirit. Born on a small farm in the deep south of Poland, a place with scarce resources and opportunities, her parents made the decision to immigrate to the United States with about a thousand dollars, two babies (Lidia was just 2 years old) and lots of courage.
As an immigrant family, speaking, reading and writing English became a daily struggle. Lidia was only 11 years old when she taught her parents to speak and write English. They worked long days and nights to provide their children the freedom and opportunities they deserved. Lidia’s parents are a prime example of what it looks like to pursue The American Dream.
“My parents came here with nothing… they fought with everything they had to provide me with the best life possible. For 25 years, I watched my father strain his body in the factory and my mom clean offices just to get the family essentials. I consistently remind myself of those hard times they overcame and how grateful I am for them. This is the fuel that keeps me going…
I want each person out there to get their opportunity just like I got mine.” She will graduated from Roosevelt University in December 2022 and intends to use her education and personal experience to positively impact her community. Lidia’s parents are the reason she remains positive and motivated throughout her life; she has learned from them that with passion, perseverance and love…anything is possible.
Annie Hansen – Operations Steward
Annie joined the BUKU Branded team in 2021 as Operations Steward with more than 35 years of experience in hospitality, project management and customer service. A lover of people with a generous servant heart, Annie believes words have power to change the world. An avid reader, Annie remarks, “I know how reading exploded joy into my children’s lives and I strongly believe literacy should be a birthright available to everyone.”
At BUKU Branded, Annie leads fulfillment and quality assurance to ensure efficient day-to-day operations. “Everything happening at BUKU Branded is for the benefit of loving our neighbor,” says Annie. “We get to be the hands and feet of God.” In her spare time, Annie can be seen kayaking, ice skating, laughing with her family or bicycling in her bare feet.
We believe in an equitable pursuit of happiness, for ALL Americans.
We believe your probability of succeeding in life should be determined by how hard you work, and not where you are born or who you are born to.
We believe we all literally read our way to a better life, no matter where you start.
We believe the solutions to the American literacy crisis already exist – these initiatives simply need proper and reliable funding to get to scale.
We believe in the transformative power of reading – literacy for all should be a key performance indicator in defining our success as a country.
We believe when we are ALL readers, we All win.
We believe service is a lifestyle.
We believe in servanthood, thinking of others first.
We believe there is redemptive value in giving – when we give, we receive.
We believe in striving to live a life of significance, not just success.
We believe in taking risks, innovating and iteration, especially on behalf of others less fortunate.
We believe in being unrealistic.
We believe if you are going to wear or utilize anything, it should be taken as an opportunity to stand for something.
We believe in conscious capitalism.
We believe our literacy crisis is too important to leave to charity alone.
We believe in serving you and supporting literacy.
