The English department congratulates Mathematics and Economics co-major Abhinandan Gaba on the successful launch of his non-profit organization Let’s Read NYC, which he started to help supply NYC libraries and schools with donated books.

Abhi collaborated with the English department and Project Cicero, a NYC non-profit dedicated to “creating and enhancing classroom and school libraries in under-resourced New York City public schools,” to collect books from the QC community for a book drive that donated over 150,000 books to over 1,000 teachers. Abhi tells us that his strong sense of public service has been shaped by Queens College: “There is no great public education system without the service from the community. Queens College faculty, staff, and students have helped ensure the possibility of a great public education system by staying true to our motto: we learn so that we may serve.”

Now Let’s Read New York is in the process of transforming into Let’s Read USA, even as it continues to serve local NYC communities. Abhi is currently collaborating with City College and LaGuardia Community College to provide donated books to military hospitals, and with Columbia University to provide books to an under-resourced library in the Philippines. It is also helping provide books to a Native American reservation.

In recognition of his service to the college and the NYC region, the English department is proud to make Abhi the recipient of our first ever Civics Award, with generous support from Distinguished Prof. Kimiko Hahn. Congratulations, Abhi!