Memorial Hospital first in Indiana to send every newborn home with books > Beacon Health System Southwest Michigan Borgess patients—Welcome to Beacon Three Rivers Health Outpatient Clinic Patients: Click here for important information be_ixf;ym_202604 d_23; ct_50 be_ixf; php_sdk; php_sdk_1.4.26 Memorial Hospital first in Indiana to send every newborn home with books Memorial Hospital first in Indiana to send every newborn home with books By Heidi Prescott Published Apr 14, 2026 Every baby born at Memorial and discharged from the main hospital or the Beacon Children’s Hospital NICU will take home 10 new board books. This initiative is expected to reach an estimated 2,500 newborns each year, making their first days the beginning of a lifelong relationship with books and fostering a lifetime of flourishing literacy. “Strong foundations begin early, and research shows how early exposure to books and reading aloud supports brain development, builds language and literacy skills and strengthens the bond between parent and child,” said Sarah Paturalski, interim president, Memorial Hospital. “The positive effects are lasting, and we are incredibly proud to be one of only eight hospitals to launch the program.” Books from Birth builds on the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County’s longstanding commitment to early literacy and is a natural complement to its work to put books in the hands of babies and young children through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. “The Community Foundation has long believed that getting books into the hands of our youngest children is one of the highest-impact investments we can make,” said Rose Meissner, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County. “Together, these programs mean that a child born in St. Joseph County today will be surrounded by books from their very first day and for years to come.” Founded in Durham, N.C., in 2011, the nonprofit Book Harvest has provided more than 3 million books to families and is internationally recognized for its work to transform children’s literacy. Books from Birth is designed to be universal — reaching every family in a participating hospital on the birthing floor and in the NICU — and built to last, with community partnerships anchoring and sustaining the program. “Books from Birth is rooted in a simple but powerful conviction: Every child, from their very first breath, deserves to have books in their home,” said Anna Reilly, board chair of Book Harvest, and a catalytic supporter of the launch. “Partnering with Memorial Hospital and the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County allows us to reach every single newborn at Memorial Hospital — no exceptions, no gaps. This is how we build a culture of reading from the ground up.” As a nonprofit, Beacon Health System remains deeply grateful to the donors whose generosity makes the extraordinary possible, complementing the remarkable work of our clinicians with programs that support families long after they leave our care. About Heidi Prescott Heidi Prescott leads media relations and patient storytelling at Beacon Health System. With 25 years as a journalist, she knows how to find the human angle in health care and connect with audiences. She specializes in media relations, crisis communications and strategic external communications. When she's not crafting stories, you'll find her behind a camera lens or exploring the outdoors. Recent news and inspiring stories Skilled teams drive progress on Memorial Hospital patient tower exterior April 15, 2026 Beacon neurosurgeon’s swift action restored a Michigan man’s quality of life April 21, 2026 Medical Minute: Stress and men’s health April 14, 2026 Eye on Health: Beacon orthopedic team helps EMT return to serving her community April 16, 2026 How one Beacon patient’s story emphasizes the power of prevention April 16, 2026 Medical Minute: What’s behind your sneezes and sniffles? April 10, 2026 Services Schedule Now Pay Bill