A new local non-profit that helps put books and educational tools in the hands of foster care children hosted three events to raise awareness and money this week in Moscow.
Brandon’s Library for Little Ones was founded by Aleta and Frederick Sonnenberg. The money raised during events it hosts will be used to buy books, book bags and a place to store the books for foster children.
Amy Asanuma | Argonaut
Child abuse survivor John Borgstedt speaks openly about his experiences Wednesday in the University of Idaho Borah Theater. Borgstedt’s speech was one of many events orchestrated by Brandon’s Library for Little Ones, a non-profit organization raising money for children in the foster care system.
“There are over 500,000 kids in foster care in the U.S.,” Aleta Sonnenburg said. “Half of them age out of the system at 18 years old every year. That is over 250,000 kids that turn 18 and get dumped out on the streets and 60 percent of those within the first year end up in jail, homeless, or dead, to me that is a travesty.”
That is why the Sonnenbergs adopted their son Brandon Sonnenberg, a 17-year-old who spent 10 years in foster care in Texas. They adopted him five days before he turned 18.
After adopting their son, Aleta Sonnenberg found out he never owned a book of his own. People develop a love for reading and learning when they are young, and Brandon was never given a chance to do that, Aleta Sonnenberg said.
She said Brandon Sonnenberg’s story helped her and her husband come up with the idea, and the name for the non-profit Brandon’s Library for Little Ones.
Brandon’s Library for Little Ones is hosting three events this week to fundraise for the organization, and raise awareness for foster care and abuse.
The first event took place Wednesday at the University of Idaho Borah Theater. The event featured speaker John Borgstedt, author and nationally acclaimed children’s advocate and abuse survivor. He gave an overview of his life and the abuse he suffered from his parents while growing up.
“There are so many families that are hurting and kids that are in tough situations,” Borgstedt said.
In 2010, Idaho had 14,887 total referrals for child abuse, and of those cases, 6,643 were referred to an investigation, according to statistics compiled by the Child Welfare League of America.
Borgstedt said adults need to make sound judgments to help these children and families who cannot help themselves.
A screening of the film “I Love you Mom,” hosted by film producer Sandra Martin Hicks and Borgstedt, will take place at 7 p.m. today in the Nuart Theater. The film is a documentary based on Borgstedt’s book “I Love you Mom, Please Don’t Break my Heart.”
The final event is a benefit concert, Jazz at the Naz, at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Moscow Church of the Nazarene. Grammy Award nominated master pianist Mark Little will headline the event. Jazz at the Naz is free, but donations are encouraged.
John Fish can be reached at [email protected]