FOR A GOOD CAUSE:

Angela Meier knew the medical director at Share Our Selves, she had worked at the charity a couple of years ago, and the experience left a lasting impression.

So much so that when she and her three teammates taking a leadership training class were deciding on a plan for their community service project, Meier knew immediately that she wanted to work with Share Our Selves.

She just needed to come up with a way to help, and the idea for donating books to children came easily to her.

Meier said her teammates focused on literacy because they believe it’s a basic foundation all children should have.

Everyone in the group said they remembered parents and family members reading a favorite book to them from when they were children.

“I’m such a learner and a reader, and this [project] would be a way that children [at Share Our Selves] could have something tangible to walk away with,” Meier said.

The group’s vision was that “every child in need has a book in hand, a dream in mind and is a leader at heart,” and when the Leadership Academy 2 group presents its book donation to the children at Share Our Selves Friday, it will have achieved its goal.

Share Our Selves is a Costa-Mesa based nonprofit founded in 1970 that provides for the needs of those living in poverty in Orange County.

Medical and dental care, counseling, case management, food, clothing, financial assistance, legal aid and special holiday programs are offered free of charge to needy families.

Leadership Academy 2 is a 13-week program focusing on community service that is part of Maximum Results Trainings, which provides executive coaching and leadership training.

Lewis Rengifo is the director of the academy and, while he acknowledged being a little biased, he believes the emphasis on community involvement is what makes this the best leadership program around.

“I’m very proud of the program. They don’t win if the community doesn’t win,” Rengifo said, adding that this group — a group with only four members — is doing an incredible job of getting the job done.

“I’ve got to hand it to them. They’ve talked to everyone they know, and I’m sure they’ll exceed the promise they made,” he said.

The academy team’s goal is to collect 5,000 books. Because two of the group’s members are from Northern California, half the books will be given to Books For Little Hands in San Jose.

The remaining 2,500 books will be delivered to Share Our Selves by May 10. Team members will bring more than 700 of the 1,169 books they have already collected to Share Our Selves on Friday.

The Share Our Selves Children’s Corner is a playroom where kids can read stories, do crafts and play games while their parents are waiting for help.

Karen Harrington, Share Our Selves’ development director, said the book donation was a very nice surprise. Most of the books will be kept in the Children’s Corner, which several years ago was nothing more than a small area in the facility’s waiting room.

“Before they built the playroom, Betty Geisler, a volunteer who’s in her 80s now, would just bring a little blanket and some toys and set up a little corner in the waiting room,” Harrington said.

About three years ago, the organization received some funding and was able to build a separate room next to the waiting room. “The Children’s Corner” had tables, chairs, a kitchen, toys, crafts and bookshelves.

The bookshelves will now be stocked with most of the donated books, Harrington said. They’ll also put books out in other areas such as the medical and dental clinic, but the best part is that visiting children will be able to keep the books if they want.

“These kids may not have a lot of books at home,” Harrington said.

Knowing that each child will be able to walk away with something tangible has been the most rewarding part of the project for Meier, who said she’s looking forward to seeing the reaction of the kids Friday.

“Nothing compares to the delight and wonder in the eyes of a child when you read them a story,” she said.

WHAT: Maximum Results Trainings Leadership Academy book donation to Share Our Shelves

WHEN: Noon Friday

WHERE: 1550 Superior Ave., Costa Mesa, 92627

INFO: For more information on Share Our Selves, call (949) 642-3451 or go to www.shareourselves.org

SUE THOENSEN may be reached at (714) 966-4627 or at [email protected].