American Girl - Shine On Now

Shine On Now™ is American Girl's charitable effort that supports important causes and encourages girls to be their best by providing ways to give back in their communities. In 2012, we will donate up to $1 million in clothes, books, dolls, and money to three partner organizations, while inspiring girls to get involved in their own communities. From lend-a-hand tips to ambassador tool kits, every girl will find a chance to shine!

Read-a-palooza | May 1 - September 3

Get into books and help a great cause

Share the joy of reading two ways this summer—get your girl
the books she loves and give others the chance to learn, too!

Explore American Girl titles

Ready for a summer full of reading?

Visit our special site featuring ideas for book clubs,
trivia, downloadable activities, and more.

*$1 of every book purchased through American Girl goes to Save the Children's U.S. Literacy Program (up to a maximum of $100,000).

Reach for the stars—and help others

For every trophy girls earn in McKenna's special activity,
American Girl will donate $0.25—up to a $50,000
contribution—to Save the Children's U.S. Literacy Program.

Start the fun

AMERICAN GIRL AMBASSADORS

Get your free Ambassador Tool Kit filled with little (and large!) ways to make a difference. Download now

BRIGHT IDEAS FOR BEING YOUR BEST

Share your enthusiasm for reading—and helping!—by trying a few of these ideas:

Volunteer to spend a few hours reading to the very young or very old in your area. Ask a parent to help organize an afternoon at a local library, preschool, nursing home, or senior center.
Collect gently used books and magazines and give them to a library, homeless shelter, or a local clinic for the waiting room.
Do you know someone who could use a boost? Loan them a book you think would make their day.

LOOK FOR NEW LEND-A-HAND IDEAS ON THIS SITE EVERY MONTH

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PARTNERS

American Girl is proud to partner with these important organizations to help make the world a brighter place.

More ways American Girl is giving back


	K.I.D.S. (Kids in Distressed Situations) has helped more than 65 million needy children by providing nearly $1 billion in new clothes, toys, books, and much more. Having something brand-new brings hope and confidence to kids and their families. K.I.D.S. works with nearly 1,000 local service agencies in the U.S. and around the world to distribute new items to kids who are poor, sick, or homeless or who have parents who are away from home or unable to care for them. K.I.D.S. also helps families who have been affected by natural disasters. Since 1990, American Girl has donated over $15 million in new clothes and books to K.I.D.S. and is proud to continue donating these items through Shine On Now.


	The National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI) promotes the health and well being of America's 70 million children and their families. NACHRI works with more than 200 children's medical centers to ensure that all children have access to a hospital when they need one and are provided high-quality care and services. As part of Shine on Now, American Girl is supporting NACHRI with a donation of American Girl dolls that bring smiles and comfort to thousands of young girls who are in the hospital.


	Save the Children works across the nation in some of the most under-served, rural areas, where one in four children lives in poverty. Partnering with local schools and community organizations, Save the Children's U.S. Programs provides early education, literacy and physical activity and nutrition programs to children living in poverty. Save the Children also ensures the needs of children are met during disasters, like hurricanes and wildfires, through their emergency response work. Save the Children's work benefited more than 75,000 children in the U.S. last year. Save the Children's literacy program helps students develop their reading skills and gives them the guidance and support they need to grow as readers. To date, American Girl has donated over $1,000,000 worth of books to Save the Children's literacy program to help children living in poverty learn to read. In 2012, American Girl is continuing to help the organization's literacy efforts by providing significant financial support.