Bess the Book Bus, Inc. is a mobile literacy outreach founded in 2004 in honor of my Nana, Bess O'Keefe. Bess, nicknamed Nana Bus, taught me the joy of reading. Every weekend we would walk into town where I was able to choose a new book. I could not wait to get home and have her read to me. Nana Bus opened a new world for me every time she opened a book and started to read.

As I got older, I realized what a difference that my Nana had made in my life by teaching me the importance of reading. I wanted to share my love for books and reading with as many people as possible in hopes that it could open new worlds for them as well. And now, through Bess the Book Bus, Inc., I am blessed with the opportunity to share the joy of reading with others.

Bess the Book Bus is dedicated to reading to children, promoting literacy, and getting books in to the homes of underprivileged children and families in the Tampa area. While our offices are located in South Tampa, the program itself is mobile. This year we have increased our services to include twenty-five Head Start programs, ten summer programs, The Spring, Metropolitan Ministries, Redland Christian Migrant Association, and an after school program. We also support three school libraries that do not have enough books to serve their population.