05/26/2025
On Thursday, May 15th, Nana’s Books Foundation Board Member Colleen Kapklein and her daughter Casey Kapklein commenced the donation of 1,700 books to Freeville Elementary School and Dryden Central Elementary School students. At Freeville Elementary the whole school meeting was held at 8:55 am and included a reading and discussion of Hello Goodbye Dog by Maria Gianferrari, as well as the Pledge of Allegiance and the Paws-ivity Pledge. At Dryden Elementary School, classroom visits featured readings and discussions of the same book, as well as The Little School Bus, A Day with No Words and Dancing Hands. On Friday, May 16th at 8:55 am, the Kapkleins attended Cassavant’s morning meeting for another book reading and further distribution.
Nana’s Books Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing grade-appropriate literature on Alzheimer's, dementia, and other disabilities to public libraries and students in Title I schools. NBF is dedicated to promoting and increasing both understanding and compassion, along with love and reading and books. Last week, each of the 673 students received at least one grade-appropriate book with a set of books for each of the 37 classrooms and three school libraries. Peg Downey, a Freeville summer resident, sponsored this initiative for the three Tompkins County elementary schools. These institutions are the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th Title I schools across 11 states and Washington, DC, to receive these donations.
Nana’s Books Foundation was established in 2020 to honor career librarian Nancy Dulniak, who passed away from Early Onset Alzheimer’s in 2021. Colleen Kapklein is the niece of Nancy Dulniak and daughter of Peg Downey. Casey Kapklein, a local resident and Binghamton graduate, is the grandniece of Nancy Dulniak and granddaughter of Peg Downey.
During each school and classroom visit, Colleen and Casey Kapklein explained the purpose of Nana’s Books, an organization founded in memory of their Aunt Nancy (Nana), a lifelong librarian who passed away from Early Onset Alzheimer’s in 2021. Each classroom teacher received a bundle of books for their classroom that focused on the Foundation’s mission of vetted content on Alzheimer’s, dementia and other disabilities while stressing the kindness and compassion that many of the books reinforce.
"Nancy’s legacy of education and literacy has resulted in the delivery of over 20,000 books to 24 Title I schools across 11 states and DC over four years," said President and Founder Dennis Dulniak. "Through our Foundation, we aim to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s and disabilities and provide resources for students and families to better handle these challenging conditions."
"We at Dryden are so thankful for this incredible opportunity for our students. We strive every day to help our students branch out in their reading so that they experience books that mirror their own experiences, and books that are windows into other experiences. Our diverse population is getting to hear and see these mirror and window books this week in their classrooms and even get to take books home to explore further. What a phenomenal experience to have moving into summer vacation!” said Liz Corbett, Dryden Elementary Librarian.
"Freeville and Cassavant Elementary Schools were privileged to receive enough books for every student in our schools. We celebrate reading every day, and this donation enabled each of our students to take home a new book and enjoy the beautiful messages they give...Thank you, Nana's Books!" stated Tia Dickson Principal of Freeville and Cassavant Elementary Schools.
This spring, the Foundation distributed 7,291 books to eight Title I schools serving a total of 2,994 students. Among these recipients were three Tomkins County schools: Cassavant, Dryden Central, Freeville Elementary (NY); two Florida schools severely impacted by last year’s hurricanes: James Tillman Elementary in Palmetto and Madison County Central; and St. Anthony Catholic (DC), Windsor School (VT), and Pine Grove Manor (NJ).
The Foundation provides each student in these Title I schools with grade-appropriate books and related
books on Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other disabilities for 154 classrooms, school, and public libraries.
To learn more about Nana’s Books Foundation and Nancy J. Downey Dulniak, visit www.NanasBooks.org.
Support the effort to educate students and communities on dementia and disabilities by donating online at
https://www.nanasbooks.org or https://www.facebook.com/nanasbooks
