“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give,” said famed British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Though Churchill’s time has come and gone, the truth of his words still lingers on. One such modern individual embodying the figure’s wisdom is Lauren Grabois Fischer, founder and author behind independent children’s book publishing house The Be Books, who uses her own wordsmithing talent and philanthropic nature to change the world for good, one book at a time.
Over the past six years, Grabois Fischer has built The Be Books into a successful international business, with classrooms and families across the world benefitting from the multitude of social emotional learning concepts displayed within the series’ pages. Bolstered by an innate tendency to help others, Grabois Fischer has since donated countless volumes from The Be Books to children in need, hoping to extend the positive lessons taught by her books to those who could be comforted by them most.
As words can be immortal, much like Churchill’s, Grabois Fischer has cited her book donations as one of the most rewarding aspects of her career, as they have given the children the chance to learn skills and values that will last them a lifetime that ultimately they will share with the world. Every kid can find a character to personally identify with throughout The Be Books collection, from the empowering and encouraging You Are A Superhero to the accepting and self-esteem boosting Every So Often a Zebra Has Stripes, making for a more authentic reading experience.
“We were so grateful for the opportunity to work with Lauren,” said Brenna from SOS Village, a foster program that keeps siblings together with the goal of reuniting them with their families. “The Light Within Me was the perfect book to read and share with our children. Being in foster care can be difficult as a child to feel special and loved; this book showed them that anything is possible and that no matter who you are, you have a special light within you. Lauren exemplifies kindness, and we are so grateful to have her books in our homes.”
To spread the message of how charity can benefit the lives of others, Grabois Fischer clues in her young readers about their own personal power of donation in the back pages of The Be Books, encouraging them to donate their old clothing, toys, and give back to those less fortunate.
“Knowing you are helping someone will not only make someone else happy, but you yourself will feel brighter too,” wrote Grabois Fischer.
Working closely with foster homes, hospitals and charities to organize events and book donations, Grabois Fischer has managed to touch the lives of children all across her native South Florida region. From Broward Health to the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, Grabois Fischer spreads her philanthropic work far and wide, hoping to benefit youth of all histories and backgrounds with The Be Books.
“I am a huge fan of Lauren Fischer’s The Be Books. Lauren has been extremely generous with her time and reading sessions when she comes and shares her books with my underprivileged children,” said Kindness Matters 365 Ambassador Linda Baratz. “She teaches them the important values and life lessons that she portrays in her books along with creative activities to enforce those ideas, and makes sure that each child went home with their very own autographed copy. Her work is a tremendous contribution to the lives of our little ones; I am so grateful for her willingness to share her unique talents.”
Grabois Fischer has not let the pandemic hold her back from her philanthropic endeavors either, as The Be Books has continued to hold virtual events for groups like Florence Fuller, an after school program for economically challenged children, and SOS Village throughout 2020 and 2021, and is sure to maintain them for years to come.
To learn more about Grabois Fischer’s The Be Books, make sure to explore its website or Instagram.