2026: Another Year of Books, Connection and Understanding
OUR WORK • 2026
A milestone year of expanding access to books that help children understand Alzheimer’s and dementia, disabilities and differences, caregiving, and the experiences that shape their lives.
2026 MILESTONE
Expanding the Reach
26,000+
Books Distributed
29 | 20
Title I Schools | Public Libraries
NEARLY 12,000
Students Reached
16
States + DC
Books, Conversation and Connection at Ypsilanti Puentes
MICHIGAN
Nana’s Books Foundation brought books and conversation together at Ypsilanti Puentes Multilingual School in Michigan, sharing stories that reflect Alzheimer’s and dementia, disabilities and differences, caregiving, mental health, and the many experiences children encounter in their families and communities.
Founder and President Dr. Dennis Dulniak joined students and educators for a schoolwide presentation, including time to read with younger students and talk about the ideas behind the books. The visit also celebrated the school’s new collection of books provided by Nana’s Books Foundation, including titles in both English and Spanish.
Books for Every Classroom at Ray St. Pierre Academy
LOUISIANA
At Ray St. Pierre Academy in Westwego, Louisiana, Nana’s Books Foundation delivered collections of books addressing Alzheimer’s and dementia, disabilities and differences, caregiving, mental health, and other experiences that shape children’s lives.
Books were bundled for individual classrooms and grade levels, giving educators resources they can use to help students explore empathy, inclusion, family relationships, and understanding. The collection included books in both English and Spanish, extending access to stories that reflect the school community.
Preparing Books for Fort Supply Elementary
OKLAHOMA
Behind every Nana’s Books Foundation distribution is the work of selecting, organizing, and preparing books for students and educators.
In February, Foundation President Dennis Dulniak and volunteer Tommy Santiago inventoried books and assembled bundles for Fort Supply Elementary in Oklahoma, preparing another collection to make its way from Nana’s Books storage shelves into a school community.
2,788 Books for Sallas Mahone Elementary
GEORGIA
The April visit went far beyond the book distribution. Students participated in three assemblies and classroom read-alouds centered on reading, kindness, inclusion and understanding differences. Foundation President Dennis Dulniak also visited classrooms, sharing stories and talking directly with students.
The distribution was made possible with support from the Homer N. Allen Charitable Trust, with special thanks to Gordie and Bertha Allen, and through the work of Sallas Mahone librarian Elizabeth Cone, who applied for the grant and coordinated the Foundation’s visit.
Nana’s Books Foundation brought 2,788 books to Sallas Mahone Elementary School in Valdosta, Georgia, reaching 1,078 students and helping expand reading resources throughout the school.
Every student received a Scholastic book to take home, while teachers received book collections for 50 classroom libraries. Additional books were donated to the school library and local public library, an $11,480 investment in books for the school community.
1,664 Books for Whitehead Elementary
ILLINOIS
Nana’s Books Foundation brought 1,664 books to Whitehead Elementary School in Rockford, Illinois, giving students new books to read and expanding resources throughout the school.
Foundation President Dennis Dulniak shared the Nana’s Books story during two school assemblies and spent time in classrooms reading with students and answering their questions.
Extending the Reach Into Local Communities
BEYOND THE SCHOOL DAY
Nana’s Books Foundation’s 2026 distributions reached beyond school classrooms and into public libraries, making books about Alzheimer’s and dementia, disabilities and differences, caregiving, and family experiences available to children, adults, and families throughout the community.
McMullen Southside Library
Valdosta, Georgia
As part of the Sallas Mahone Elementary School distribution, Nana’s Books Foundation also donated books to McMullen Southside Library, extending the impact of the Valdosta visit beyond the school and into the surrounding community.
Rockford Public Library
Rockford, Illinois
Following the Whitehead Elementary School distribution, Nana’s Books Foundation donated 14 children’s and adult books to Rockford Public Library, providing additional resources for readers and families throughout the Rockford community.
Every Nana’s Books distribution begins long before the books arrive in a classroom. Thousands of titles are received, inventoried, organized, and matched to schools before individual collections are packed for shipment.
Throughout 2026, Nana’s Books Foundation volunteers worked behind the scenes to keep that process moving, sorting books, maintaining the growing inventory, and preparing boxes for schools across the country. In one shipment alone, 43 boxes were delivered to the post office for five schools.
It’s the less visible side of the Foundation’s work, but an essential one: turning shelves filled with books into carefully prepared collections ready to reach children and educators.
From Shelves to Schools
BEHIND THE SCENES
