826 National is a network of nine nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping students, ages 6-18, with expository and creative writing.
Our mission is based on the understanding that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention, and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success.
Each chapter offers after-school tutoring, field trips, workshops, and in-schools programs — all free of charge — for children, classes, and schools with particular interests or particular needs.
826 is especially committed to supporting teachers, offering services and resources for English language learners, and publishing student work. All locations offer unique retail experiences as well.
826 National
826 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
415-642-5905 x 204
415-642-5914 fax Email us
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826 loves two things: students who write prodigiously and students who are kind to each other. To help show that love, 826 Valencia has set up the Young Writers' Wall. Twice a year, in September and in January, six students who have produced copious amounts of work and who are respectful to their peers during after-school tutoring are featured on the wall. High-quality photos of each honoree are placed in beautiful frames, along with a biographical blurb. The photos stay up for about six months, not only recognizing the featured students but also encouraging others to work hard for a coveted spot on the wall.
The recently-honored students make a strong group, indeed. They include 10-year-old Emily Castro, who, like most of us, wishes pizzaghetti existed and would like to have the ability to camouflage herself (no doubt to acquire some pizzaghetti). There's also Alisha Chen, 9, who crafted at least twenty poems for National Poetry Month, while maintaining her impeccable sense of style. Andrea Ramos, 7, will never tire of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and she enjoys making her grandmother happy. (Surely being on the Young Writers' Wall did that!) Other students featured on the wall include Rachelle Hull, 11, Giuseppe Pacheco, 8, and Martha Sanchez, 13.
Congratulations to this amazing batch of young literary luminaries in San Francisco!
UPDATE as of 8/27: Thank you for your support. With your help, we raised more than $8,260 yesterday, all to support our writing and tutoring centers across the country! And it's not too late to donate. Please continue to spread the word to everyone you know with a cell phone, an internet connection, or $8.26 in spare change in their couch cushions.
Yep, it’s that simple! August 26th, 2010 is Youth Literacy Day and you can help 826 writing centers continue to make a difference in the lives of over 22,000 students each year. Make a donation of $8.26 on August 26th by texting “WRITE” to 20222 or giving online at www.826on826.org.
And while you’re at it, how about telling your friends? Join us on Facebook and Twitter to help spread the word about donating $8.26 on Youth Literacy Day.
Want to make a donation larger than $8.26? We'd love it if you would. And we'll even drop a fun gift in the mail for you:
If you donate $82.60 or more we'll send you a copy of 826’s 2-disc benefit CD, Give.Listen.Help. Vol. 6 (featuring special recordings from over two dozen artists, including MGMT, Sonic Youth, Passion Pit, and Cold War Kids).
And if you donate $826 we'll send you a special copy of Thanks and Have Fun Running the Country, a collection of student letters to President Obama, signed by some of the young authors themselves.
A one-time donation of $10.00 (an $8.26 donation and a $1.74 service fee) will be added to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid balance. Msg&Data Rates May Apply. All charges are billed by and payable to your mobile service provider. Service is available on most carriers. Donations are collected for the benefit of 826 by the Mobile Giving Foundation and subject to the terms found at www.hmgf.org/t. You can unsubscribe at any time by texting STOP to 20222; reply HELP to 20222 for help.
826 National is thrilled to announce Gerald Richards as its new Chief Executive Officer. Richards’ background as an educator-advocate and seasoned fundraiser, with over twelve years experience providing opportunities for youth through education, is an exciting addition to the 826 organization. Most recently, Richards worked as the Executive Director of the Bay Area Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, where he led the regional team in doubling the number of students served by their seventeen school sites. Prior to his work in the Bay Area, Richards worked in Chicago with the United Negro College Fund, The Cradle Foundation, and the Chicago Panel on School Policy. A native of Harlem in New York City, he is excited to work for an organization with direct connections to so many of the communities with which he has strong roots.
Tynnetta McIntosh, 826 National Board President, notes that: “Richards’ strong track record of youth advocacy coupled with his excellent fundraising and organizational leadership skills makes him a perfect fit with our mission. We are delighted to welcome him to the 826 family.”
“Gerald’s experience and expertise is an eerily perfect fit for 826,” says co-founder Dave Eggers. “He not only has done major fundraising and planning at other major nonprofits, but he has an MFA in fiction. My co-founder Nínive Calegari provided 826 with incredible vision and built the network to where it currently stands. And though she’s completely irreplaceable, Gerald is that one-in-a-million type of a guy who has the leadership and charisma to step into her very large shoes.”
Nínive Calegari, founding CEO and 826 National Co-founder, has stepped aside in order to spend more time with her family, but will continue to support the work of 826 chapters as an advisor, collaborating on major projects and initiatives. 826 National has flourished under Nínive’s vision and guidance, and is incredibly honored to have her strong leadership model in place as we move into the next decade of 826 programs with Richards at the helm.
826LA can! Our fraudulent friends from LA have joined forces with the creators of the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee to present: A Spelling Bee For Cheaters. A combination spelling bee and 826LA fundraiser, this event encourages participants to skip the studying and join forces into teams to raise money—the more money a team raises before the event, the more opportunities they have to cheat on that day. Perplexing? A little. Corrupt? You betcha!
For more information, check out Spelling Bee for Cheaters Headquarters and be sure to join these scammers as they raise money for 826LA's free writing and tutoring programs for children. You can register as a speller or donate to an existing team, including The Dictionators, the only all-student crew.
Are you in LA? The big show's on Saturday, August 14th at 2:00PM at Lincoln Middle School with Spike Jonze, Dianna Agron, Dave Eggers and others scheduled to appear. General admission tickets are on sale here, but grab them quick as they'll surely be spelling—er, selling—quickly.
Wondering what a robot really does in his spare time? Did the word for a 47-seat party bicycle slip your mind? Ever meet a girl who runs her mouth as if she had shoes for teeth and seems to control gravity? And what ever happened when that flower-shooting spaceship invaded New York City?
Answers to these burning questions that you never knew you had, and many more, can be found in eight action-packed pieces from the young authors of 826 Boston. Read the stories in our Student Writing Gallery...
Well, it could be! For a limited time in the 826 National store, we have the Mercury Cougar-Rama Muscle Car-‘Splosion t-shirt in two different colors and styles. These awesome tees were custom-designed and hand-drawn by Grammy-nominated musician Neko Case for an upcoming classic car fundraiser to benefit 826 National's free student programs.
Stay tuned to Cougar-Rama Headquarters for more news on the car and drop by our store to pick up Neko’s Mercury Cougar-Rama Muscle Car-‘Splosion tee. Printed by our friends at Poketo, they're available for a limited time only -- so catch them quick!
Have you ever wanted to know what it takes to develop a literacy nonprofit? Are you dying to get a behind-the-scenes look at a unique and successful business model?
We are thrilled to announce that registration is open for our full-day nonprofit business and programming seminar. Teachers, tutors, nonprofit visionaries, and supporters of 826 National gather from around the globe to take part in this workshop to learn about what we do and bring fresh ideas back home.
This all day seminar will provide an in-depth look into the nuts and bolts of 826. Attendees will gain insight into organization operations, fundraising and development, volunteer recruitment and retention, 826 programming, our storefront business model, and much more. Come join us on Friday, September 10, 2010 from 9am-5pm at our founding location, 826 Valencia in San Francisco. $300 will get you breakfast, lunch, and informational take-home materials. Visit here to sign up today!
Take a look at the feedback we’ve received from workshop attendees in the past:
“It was tremendously empowering and eye-opening. I appreciated the great energy and candor of the presenters. The information shared was excellent… and often surprising.” — Amy Rogers, Charlotte, NC
“I can’t wait to go back to my school and community and talk to people, do research, [and] plant seeds to get something like this started.” — Jennifer Hekkers, Denver, CO
“Thank you! This will be extremely helpful to our young writing and tutoring center as we begin to offer more regular service. I probably got twenty good answers to small problems that I’ve faced over the past few months. It is invaluable to learn from the people who have made this model work from scratch.” — Mike Agresta, Austin, TX
Curious about what life is like when you’re as small as a pencil? Read no further than Don’t Stay Up So Late, 826michigan's newest publication of bedtime tales, mysteries, fables, and other fantastic products of the imagination. This shiny new hardcover is the much-anticipated work of first through fifth grade classes at Erickson Elementary in Ypsilanti, MI. These wild stories are accompanied by the beautiful illustrations of Ian Huebert and cover everything from a monster figuring out how to get its scare back, how Michigan was actually created by a giant baby, and what happens when aliens set up camp in your attic.
In early June the book was unveiled at its site of creation with a celebratory pajama party. Many of 826michigan’s brand new authors read their stories to the cheers of their peers, teachers, families, and adoring fans. Needless to say, these young writers were standing ten feet tall as they munched on milk and cookies. In the words of 826michigan, “Students respond to our publishing program because they know we are taking their voices and what they have to say very seriously.”
826's newest chapter, 826DC, is on the hunt for an Executive Director. They are looking for a hard-working individual to join our national family and steer our capital city students to success. The Executive Director will shape the growth of the newest center from the ground up and oversee the management and operations of this rapidly-growing chapter.
Click here for a full job description including responsibilities, recommended experience and skills, and application instructions. The position will remain open until filled and interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis.
Earlier this year, The San Francisco Chronicle premiered an exciting new monthly column, starring our cast of San Francisco natives. The students (and self-described “jaded, cynical teenagers”) of 826 Valencia have been writing monthly reviews of current movie or DVD releases for the Bay Area paper.
Our Windy City students were center stage on Sunday, June 13th, as 826CHI celebrated the release of The 826CHI Compendium, Vol. 2 at the Printers Row Lit Fest. 826 volunteer and Hemingway Foundation/PEN award winner Brigid Pasulka presided over the ceremony, and the student authors themselves gave dramatic readings of their masterpieces. After the performance, they could be found backstage, signing copies of the anthology for their adoring fans.
The latest Compendium showcases the work of 42 student writers and the group work of 11 classes, and includes a delightful forward by local author/instructor Joe Meno. The publication features such selections as a classic tale of a terrible day involving too much ham, a gripping account of two aging friends engaged in the art of squirrel hunting, and an instructive lesson to Rod Blagojevich on how to eat chocolate – highly recommended reading for any lazy summer day!
Check out what else is blowing around at www.826chi.org, and stop by The Boring Store in-person or online to snag yourself a copy of this (and other) masterful student work.
If you haven't noticed recently, our online store is exploding with fabulous products and sweet deals for your perusal!
Recently featured in The New York Times, our brand new poster asks the question that you’ve been pondering—Are You Absolutely, Positively, and Wholeheartedly Ready to Publish Your Novel?—and helps you answer it within a 15" x 30" margin.
Also just in, acclaimed author Vendela Vida is signing and personalizing copies of her brand new novel, The Lovers, for customers who purchase it from the 826 National store; Rickshaw Bagworks is printing custom 826 National messenger bags; and Daniel Alarcon is making authors share their secret writing habits and rituals in The Secret Miracle.
And if all this wasn’t marvelous enough, we’re giving away a free copy of 826’s 2-disc benefit cd, Give.Listen.Help. Vol. 6 (featuring special recordings from over two dozen artists, including MGMT, Sonic Youth, Passion Pit, and Cold War Kids) with every order over $10. So what are you waiting for? Get shopping!
If you’re in or around Los Angeles this Wednesday, June 23, be sure to peek into Skylight Books at 7:30 PM for the official release of 826LA’s newest publication, You Never Forget How to Ride a Bike: Lessons Learned by the Students of John Marshall High School.
This captivating compilation of student work is the result of 826LA's annual Young Authors’ Book Project, where one local high school took on the challenge of publishing their own anthology of works on a designated theme by the end of the year. This year’s result: a book of moments that have shaped these authors lives—including encounters with Def Leppard albums, wormy peaches, and campus police—and the lessons that they’ve learned along the way.
Want to get a VIP glimpse at the process behind the book's creation? Check out this short documentary made by 826LA’s Darrell Gabonia for an in-depth look at the students and volunteers that made it all happen:
And be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the book’s universe-wide release at 826LA's online store!
The last few weeks have been a busy and exciting time for 826DC. On May 19th, 826DC students, parents, teachers, staff and volunteers gathered to celebrate the release of Get Used to the Seats: A Complete Survival Guide for Freshman. For 826DC's newest publication, sixty-four seniors from Cardozo and Wilson High Schools honed in on their intimate wisdom of high school to offer practical, warm, often hilarious, and always-honest advice from their journey.
Among the sage counsel included: “Teachers and homework will not hurt you. Turn off your cell phone. Let your mind be reckless. And get used to the seats!”
The book also includes a special introduction by film director and screenwriter Spike Jonze. It is currently available for purchase on 826DC’s website and in bookstores nationwide.
And on June 5th, 826 National’s newest chapter was featured in the Washington Post in an article highlighting everything from publishing student work in the District to moustache growth and unnatural history. You can read the article and browse the accompanying photo gallery in the online archives.
On June 2nd at the historic Women's Building in San Francisco, 826 Valencia celebrated the release of their latest Young Authors' Book Project publication, We The Dreamers: Young Authors Explore the American Dream. Proud juniors and seniors from Mr. Rose's and Ms. Leathers' English classes at John O'Connell High School came together with their families, friends, teachers, and 826 Valencia volunteers and staff members to celebrate their hard work, read their essays, and sign copies of the gorgeous new book.
Beginning in January 2010, fifty students worked for over four months to write, edit, and design the publication of essays. The topics covered range widely from personal dreams and family histories to fulfilling destinies and honoring heroes of the past. Each student spent hours crafting their pieces with 826 Valencia tutors, writing between ten and twelve drafts each.
In their introduction to the book the student editorial board wrote:
"As time passed, the project became more personal, more than just writing. Many of us hadn't thought before about what our dream was. Now we had the chance to take something of ourselves, words that we may have never said to anyone, and put them on paper. We got the chance to reflect on our own experiences, to see how hard some of them have been, and to see how strong we have been. The essays became our life stories."
High school junior, Ares Alemendares said of the project, " I get it now. I thought this was just for a grade. But tonight, I realized this (book) was a big deal."
Congratulations to these newly published authors on their fabulous work! We the Dreamers is available for purchase at 826 Valencia's Pirate Store in San Francisco, through their online store, and in bookstores nationwide.
TUTORING
826 sites are packed five days a week with students who come in for free one-on-one tutoring after school. More »
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STUDENT PUBLISHING
Each year we partner with an acclaimed author to work closely with a teacher and students from a low-income school to create an unique and professionally-made book.
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FIELD TRIPS
Up to four times a week at many of our sites, 826 welcomes an entire class for a morning of high-energy learning.
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IN-SCHOOLS
It is not feasible for all classes to come to us, so we dispatch teams of volunteers into local schools.
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WORKSHOPS
826 offers free workshops that provide in-depth writing instruction in a variety of areas that schools often don’t include in their curriculum. More »
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SCHOLARSHIPS
We award three $10,000 scholarships each spring for students entering college the upcoming fall. More »
826's newest chapter, 
Our Windy City students were center stage on Sunday, June 13th, as 826CHI celebrated the release of The 826CHI Compendium, Vol. 2 at the Printers Row Lit Fest. 826 volunteer and Hemingway Foundation/PEN award winner Brigid Pasulka presided over the ceremony, and the student authors themselves gave dramatic readings of their masterpieces. After the performance, they could be found backstage, signing copies of the anthology for their adoring fans.
Recently featured in 
Rickshaw Bagworks is printing 
If you’re in or around Los Angeles this Wednesday, June 23, be sure to peek into Skylight Books at 7:30 PM for the official release of 826LA’s newest publication, You Never Forget How to Ride a Bike: Lessons Learned by the Students of John Marshall High School.
The last few weeks have been a busy and exciting time for 
On June 2nd at the historic Women's Building in San Francisco, 
