Getting to Know You…

After four years, maybe it’s time

we formally introduce ourselves!

PLUS—Let’s catch up!

The Basics:

Lives in: Johnston

Spouse: Luke, married for 19 years

Children: Jackson (17) and Henry (15, named after the main character in The Time Traveler’s Wife)

Pets: Brutus (Old English Sheepdog), Ripley (Bernedoodle), Captain (standard-issue cat)

Education: BA in World Economy and History from The Ohio State University; Master’s of Healthcare Administration from Des Moines University

Paying Job: Operations for an insurance company

Where did you grow up? I was born in El Paso, Texas, and have lived in a total of 7 states, including Florida and Ohio.  I didn’t come to Iowa until I moved here for grad school.  

What do you like to read? Mostly fiction of a wide variety.  I love everything from The Great Gatsby to The Road to Dungeon Crawler Carl.  

What is your favorite banned book? Just one?  The Giver.  No, Ender’s Game.  Or maybe The Time Traveler’s Wife, The Art of Racing in the Rain, or…..I could go on and on.

Why do you do this work? There are so many reasons.  One is to protect queer kids.  My best friends in college were gay and I vividly remember them telling me how they knew from an early age they weren’t like other boys.  I do this in their honor, so that those little boys and others like them know that they are not alone, and that they are perfect just the way they are.

What else would you like readers to know? Never underestimate the power of angry moms.  Look at how much good we have put into the world—over 26,000 books!  You can make a difference.  

Stay tuned to learn more about our 8 other board members in the coming weeks!

Let’s Catch Up!

There are a lot of newsworthy items to share this week

First Up: SF496 Lawsuit Moves Forward

Coverage of the new filing in Penguin’s lawsuit against the State of Iowa over SF496, the book banning law, finally hit the national news.  Remember, though, we brought it to you first!  This new approach targets 3 school districts over their decision to remove 9 specific titles.  The hope is that the districts will admit that they made a mistake in removing these classics and that they will be reshelved.  

Three 3 districts named in the lawsuit are Urbandale, Nevada, and East Union.  If you are a resident of these communities, please reach out to the school board and ask for these books to reclaim their rightful places on the library’s shelves.  Your voice is exactly what we need in this fight—and sends the message that we will not tolerate censorship!

For more information on the lawsuit, please read Little Village Magazine’s coverage (and support local journalism!).

While Iowa Gets It Wrong, Massachusetts Gets It Right!

On August 10, Massachusetts Governor Healey signed into law a bill that protects the freedom to read.  The law establishes clear guidelines for book selection and still allows for reconsideration requests.  The catch?  To request a reconsideration, the person must be a student, parent, or staff member (meaning that, for example, a Mom For Liberty who sends her kid to private school can’t demand that the public school remove a book.  Ahem, not that we know of any place that has happened…).  You can read more about the law here.

Indianola Celebrates Book Lovers Day

August 9 was Book Lovers Day, and Indianola Mayor Steve Richardson honored the occasion by issuing a proclamation declaring the holiday at—where else?—the library!  Considering that Indianola is a hotbed of Moms For Liberty, we have to imagine that resulted in some pearl-clutching.  Read the full proclamation here.

More News This Week

• Even Barbie isn’t safe from the book banners!  The book Barbie Today was targeted for removal in New Braunfels, Texas, for references to #MeToo, Black Lives Matter, and climate change.  Yes, really.  Don’t worry though—this request was too extreme even for Texas, and the book will remain.

• Remember when you told your friends about Project 2025 and they told you there was nothing to worry about?  Yeah, they were wrong.  These people won’t stop until all librarians who don’t bend to their will are in jail and forever branded as sex offenders.

• Where are our friends from Southeast Iowa?  We haven’t been to this Book Fair but it looks worth checking out!

• Here’s a fun story: The world’s most prolific book thief was from….Ottumwa!  Stephen Blumberg stole over 23,000 rare books from universities and libraries in 45 states.  Who knew?!?!

Donors like you make our work possible!

Annie’s Foundation is run entirely by a small team of

volunteers, funded by your generous donations.

We’ve given away over 3,000 books this summer, and we need more!  Help us out with a donation.

Upcoming Events

August 15: Banned Book Giveaway and School Supply Drive with The Insufferable Wenches of Iowa @ the Waterloo Center for the Arts (Waterloo), 3-6pm

August 23: Banned Book Giveaway @ Back 2 School Bash, Reichardt Community Recreation Center (Des Moines), 2-5pm

August 27: Annie’s Foundation Banned Book Club featuring Horse by Geraldine Brooks, Annie’s Foundation office, 6:30pm

August 29: Banned Book Giveaway @ the World Food and Music Festival, Western Gateway Park (Des Moines), 11am-6pm

September 19: Banned Book Giveaway and Presentation @ Pages in the Park, Terry Trueblood Recreation Area (Iowa City), 9am-6pm (registered participants only)

….plus more coming in the fall!  You don’t have any excuse NOT to see us!

Don’t forget that you can

purchase books from Storyhouse Bookpub

and send them directly to us.

Support your local bookstore AND fight book bans

with one purchase!