Bryant U. social entrepreneur heads to NYC for ServiceNation Summit

September 10th, 2008

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - Kyle Baldwin of Fairfield, Calif., is taking his belief in the power of business to create social change and heading to New York City to attend the ServiceNation Summit Sept. 11 and 12.

Baldwin, a first-year student who has not yet chosen a concentration, is among the 600 Americans of all ages and walks of life who will attend the summit, which aims lay out a policy blueprint for addressing social challenges through expanded opportunities for volunteer and national service.

Baldwin and his brother, Brady, who attends college in California, will attend panel discussions and will hear presentations by Senators John McCain and Barak Obama and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Kyle and Brady, both of whom are Eagle Scouts, are founders of My Own Book, a not-for-profit business that focuses on literacy through reading-aloud programs and distribution of new books to youngsters.

Both Baldwins have a love of reading. When they learned that low-income elementary school children have, on average, no more than two books at home, they set out to make a difference. (To date, the organization has given away more than 12,000 new books.) By attending the summit, they hope to find ways to expand their efforts, in particular focusing on their Joy of Reading Coast to Coast to be held Sept. 27th.

Keywords: student life