Sydney-based high school student Aiden M has donated $1066 from his birthday money to Books in Homes Australia to help 13 disadvantaged children in outback Australia.

The donation story started when Books in Homes received an email that said:

“I’m 13 years old, I’ve just had my birthday and will be donating a portion of the gift money I received to your amazing program.
I have always loved reading and would love to help kids learn to love reading like me and improve their literacy skills.
It will be $1,066 (13 x $82) and is being donated via my dad.
Thank you,
Aiden”

The Books in Homes team was delighted with the email and immediately made plans to meet with Aiden and his parents to found out a little bit more about him.

Aiden attends Emanuel School in Randwick, and gravitated towards Books in Homes because he loves reading, especially Fantasy and Sci-Fi. His three favourite books are Elantris by Brandon Sanderson, The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, and The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss. Aiden’s favourite authors are Brandon Sanderson and Patrick Rothfuss, as well as Derek Landy and Garth Nix.

It is Aiden’s love of reading that led him to Books in Homes, as he wanted to give other children a chance to learn to love reading too. The funds he donated will go towards supporting 13 children at a remote school in the Northern Territory.

Thank you, Aiden, for your extraordinary generosity.

PHOTO CREDITS
Above: Aiden M with Peter Large (CEO of Books in Homes)