Donated Books Speak Volumes to Students

Students at Strathern Street Elementary School gave a warm thank you Tuesday to Robert Mirvis, founder of the nonprofit L.A. Adopt-A-Class.

The program was responsible for bringing more than 700 books to the school this year, with another 1,400 on the way.

In a school assembly, students presented Mirvis with a mural-like quilt they made containing thank you notes, surrounded by photographs of children reading their new books.

“There is nothing more enjoyable than reading from a great book,” Mirvis told the children. “I’ll make sure to hang [the quilt] in my office.”

The books for children in pre-kindergarten through third grade will be used in the school’s new reading program, California Early Literacy Learning.

Mirvis, who owns a women’s sleepwear manufacturing company, launched L.A. Adopt-A-Class five years ago to give sorely needed textbooks and classroom supplies to inner-city and poor schools.

Strathern Street Elementary is a year-round school with 1,400 students, about 90% of whom are Latino and speak English as a second language. The neighborhood is filled with low-income families.

“It’s not exactly like a school you would find on the Westside,” Mirvis said. “These are the schools that need the most help.”

Businesses and private individuals donate a minimum of $2,000 to participate in the program, which collects about $200,000 annually. It has enriched the libraries and classrooms of 14 Los Angeles schools since 1994.

“He really is a hero in our eyes,” said Strathern Principal Bonnie Moren. “If more businesses came forward to help, then we would have so much more for the children. Our students are their future workers.”