Jeff DaPuzzo

The bonanza of books was created by Jeff DaPuzzo, an advertising executive at American Express.A leadership training program he is involved in required a project on how to inspire others, and DaPuzzo came up with "Books for Children " to inspire a lifelong love of reading.

Because he had heard about the strong library development program at St. Aloysius School, he approached Sister Margaret Dennehy, S.C., school librarian."Next thing I knew, we had a school," he said.

Sister Margaret considered the reading ability and interests of the children at the various grade levels and came up with suggested authors and titles, "some golden oldies and some wonderful new things," as she put it.

Some 150 co-workers, friends and relatives helped DaPuzzo collect the books, and he and a friend boxed and delivered them in 12 cartons.

The new books were spread out on classroom tables when DaPuzzo and a dozen volunteers arrived.