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Our History The organization's name comes from the belief that a book, like a bridge, can take a child to new places - today in his or her imagination and tomorrow through literacy skills. The Bridge of Books Foundation was created in June 2000 by Tricia McCarthy to provide books to San Francisco's at-risk youth. Having left the practice of law in 1999 to devote her self to community activities, Ms. McCarthy was moved to found this organization by the knowledge that many children did not have books in their homes due to their parents' difficult financial situations and that many children's programs had few or no books due to a lack of funds. In late 2002, Abigail Daly also left the practice of law to raise her infant daughter and son. She had spent the last six years representing individuals who were involuntarily committed to mental health facilities and then the Division of Youth and Family Services in abuse and neglect actions. Wanting to remain involved in the community and to continue working with the organizations that she had come into contact with as an attorney, Ms. Daly made contact with Ms. McCarthy through Ellen McNamara, another New Jersey resident and Ms. McCarthy's aunt. Several months later, a chapter of the Bridge of Books was born in early 2003.
The San Francisco organization ceased operations in late 2004, leaving New Jersey to assume the mantle and carry on the mission of the Bridge of Books Foundation. We did just that - incorporating ourselves and applying for and receiving 501(c)(3) status as a non-profit organization in our own right! In just over three years, we have distributed over 76,000 books to over 100 agencies throughout New Jersey that are serving the needs of New Jersey's underprivileged children.  Bridge of Books receives a grant in New Jersey.
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After four-and-a-half years and with the knowledge that the mission of her foundation will continue to thrive here in New Jersey, Tricia has decided to move onto other projects in the non-profit field. "After several years of developing BoB, it was time for me to try new avenues in the nonprofit world," reflected Tricia. "The fact that BoB had expanded to NJ and would be serving children there gave me great comfort and made a difficult decision that much easier. I am still working closely with one of the schools that BoB served in the Bay Area, and am helping them secure funding for a playground right now. My work at BoB and the people I met through it (from the dedicated teachers to the kids whose eyes lit up when receiving a new book) continue to influence and inspire me." 