I learned about a neat non-profit organisation today

It's based in Denver, Colorado, and is called Burning Through Pages. Here is a bit from their website:

Burning Through Pages is All About Reading

Reading is good. Reading is important. Reading sparks creativity and a willingness to think in new directions. It keeps our brains from turning to mush and even helps us discover what we don’t know about ourselves. Reading is especially important for teens. Every book they read shapes their mindset and their future - we help them see how that is possible. In a time of overwhelming technology and mindless entertainment, we want to get books into the hands of young adults based on what they love and are passionate about, in the hope that they will become active readers and find sanctuary in the limitless stories and ideas found in literature.

Burning Through Pages is a Denver-based non-profit organization that helps kids join book clubs in their communities (run by our volunteers and other kids), launch new book clubs in their communities, or interact one-on-one with a BTP volunteer. We want to help kids experience literature on whatever level makes them comfortable, excited and reading, reading, reading! We actually buy the books for the kids and if they love them, they keep them – and no, we are not joking.

The power of reading is in the life-long knowledge that is gained in every book read. That power is out there for the taking and Burning Through Pages wants to make sure that power is placed in your hands.

What alerted me to their presence was this poster from them shared by George Takei on Facebook. Isn't that a great message? So check them out. If you're in the Denver area, it's an excellent chance to volunteer. And if not, there's a donation area on their site as well, if you're so inclined.

PS Someone on Facebook complained about the religious and violent aspects of the image. Okay, I get the sword of the knight, but religious imagery? I'm guessing she didn't quite catch that the one on the left is actually an old-fashioned diving helmet (such as you find in Jules Verne), rather than some odd nun getup. I don't think she was talking about the wizard, which after all, is also not religious. Ah, well.

Know a small non-profit out there that does a lot of good?

Make sure it knows about this:

Nonprofits may lose tax-exempt status: Many at risk of missing deadline for filing new form with IRS

Groups reporting $25,000 or less in income with a fiscal year ending on December 31st are required to file a form, the 990-N, by Monday, or they could lose their tax-exempt status. Many have not heard of the new rule. It would make donations taxable until they could restore their status, and possibly wipe them out before that could happen. Churches are exempt, however.