Born from Experience.
Driven by Purpose.
A Romanian-American from New Jersey saw the gap — and decided to close it, one book at a time.
A Story That Starts
in Two Countries.
Our founder grew up straddling two worlds — the well-resourced classrooms of New Jersey and the memory of Romanian schools where books were scarce, shared, and worn thin from years of use.
On a return visit to rural Romania, the contrast became impossible to ignore. Children were sharing a single textbook among a dozen students. School libraries, where they existed at all, held fewer books than a typical American child's bedroom bookshelf.
The response was immediate and personal: fill the car with donated books from neighbors in New Jersey and drive them to schools in Romania. That first trip delivered over 200 books to two village schools — and the reaction from the children made one thing clear. This had to continue.
What began as a personal mission has grown into a registered New Jersey nonprofit with a network of donors, volunteers, and Romanian school partners — united by the belief that every child deserves a story.
"I couldn't unsee what I had seen. So I stopped looking away and started doing something about it."
— Founder, Raising Readers In Romania
Literacy Is Not a Privilege.
It Is a Right.
Raising Readers In Romania exists to close the literacy gap between resource-rich and resource-poor communities — starting with the children of Romania who are hungry to learn but lack the books to do it.
We collect donated books from families across New Jersey, partner with Romanian schools and educators, and deliver books directly into classrooms and reading corners where they will be read, shared, and treasured for years.
Our Core Values
Literacy as a Right
Every child deserves access to books and the opportunity to become a reader. We believe literacy is the foundation of every other opportunity in life.
Community-Driven
Our work is powered by neighbors helping neighbors — families in New Jersey donating what they can so children in Romania can have what they need.
Transparent Impact
100% of every donation goes directly to books and delivery. No overhead, no bureaucracy — just books in the hands of children who need them.
Long-Term Relationships
We partner with schools and communities in Romania for the long haul, building trust and sustained impact rather than one-time drops.
How We Got Here
Founded after a visit to rural Romania revealed classrooms with almost no books.
First shipment of 800 books delivered to three schools in Iași County.
Launched monetary donation program to fund local book purchases in Romania.
Expanded to 12 partner schools across four Romanian counties.
Surpassed 10,000 books delivered; established annual fundraiser gala in NJ.
Launched reading corner initiative — dedicated library spaces inside classrooms.
Reached 20,000 books and partnered with Romanian Ministry of Education pilot program.
A Lean, Dedicated Team
We keep our structure intentionally small so that every dollar donated goes as far as possible.
Founder & Executive Director
Leads strategy, donor relations, and Romania partnerships. Romanian-American with deep ties to both communities.
Romania Operations Coordinator
Based in Romania, manages school partnerships, book distribution logistics, and on-the-ground impact reporting.
NJ Volunteer Network
Dozens of dedicated volunteers across New Jersey who organize book drives, fundraisers, and community outreach.
Ready to Be Part
of the Story?
Whether you donate books, give financially, or spread the word — every action puts a book in a child's hands.