I am powerful.2015 Annual Report

GreatNonprofits has recognized Hands as a Top-Rated Nonprofit for the sixth year in a row.

St. Kitts and Nevis 30,490 books from Hands6,066 children reached

St. Vincent and the Grenadines47,370 books from Hands13,100 children reached

Grenada24,590 books from Hands13,600 children reached

Antigua37,170 books from Hands8,700 children reached

Dominica58,830 books from Hands 13,851 children reached

We are powerful.Hands Across the Sea has given 73,626children access to new amazing books.

St. Lucia52,160 books from Hands18,309 children reached

They are powerful.Hands Across the Sea has created or

rejuvented 320 school lending libraries and after-school reading programs.

Antigua l 40 school lending libraries & reading programs

St. Lucia l 59 school lending libraries & reading programs

St. Kitts and Nevis l 36 school lending libraries & reading programs

St. Vincent and the Grenadines56 school lending libraries & reading programs

Dominica l 84 school lending libraries & reading programs

Grenada l 45 school lending libraries & reading programs

These open up the world.Hands Across the Sea has sent over 250,600 brand new,

age-appropriate, culturally-relevant books from the world’s leading children’s book and education publishers.

We listen to educators.Which books go to which schools? Educators

send us their school-specific Hands Wish List—and we also fulfill children’s requests.

Harriet LinskeyHands Co-Founder &Executive Director

Tom “TL” LinskeyHands Co-Founder &Marketing Director

Amanda DombachHands Program &Operations Director

Celia SorhaindoHands Literacy LinkDominica

Heidi FagerbergHands Literacy LinkSt. Kitts and Nevis

Lisa TomlinsonHands Literacy LinkAntigua

Olivia PhillipHands Literacy LinkGrenada

Jacqueline Vidal-AtherlyHands Literacy LinkSt. Lucia

Elaine OllivierreHands Literacy LinkSt. Vincent and the Grenadines

Christobelle AshtonHands Literacy LinkSt. Vincent and the Grenadines

Our passion is child literacy.The Hands team gives Caribbean children access tonew amazing books and vibrant lending libraries.

Hands CLASS (Caribbean Literacy and School Support) Program

New AmAziNg Asked-For Books. Hands Across the Sea sends only new, age-appropriate, culturally-relevant books from the best publishers.

CreAte or rejuveNAte LeNdiNg LiBrAries. Creating a vibrant lending library in a school helps make reading a part of children’s lives.

sustAiN the LiterACy gAiNs. Hands works with principals, teachers, and U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers to keep libraries operational.

Hands Wish ListsIn our unique, proven approach to giving children access to high-quality, targeted reading material, educators specify which books their students need—and we buy books from the world’s leading publishers to make their Hands Wish Lists come true.

Hands Literacy LinksOur on-island Hands Literacy Links work closely with schools on an ongoing basis to troubleshoot roadblocks, help educators get the most from Hands books and literacy materials, develop a joy of reading in children, and ensure the sustainability of Hands projects.

Hands Student Librarian ProgramWhen children are empowered with “ownership” of the school library and entrusted with running the show, they read more books and broaden their horizons—and child literacy grows.

Mentor, measure, assess, sustain.Our goal? Make each Hands library project a highly effective,

sustainable success story that raises child literacy levels.

Hands Library Assessment Tool (LAT)Using the LAT, Hands Literacy Links track vital signs of Hands libraries on an ongoing basis.

Quality of librarian training

Cooperation & dedication of school staff

Parental & community involvement

Functioning of the library committee

Adequacy of library staffing

Library access (open sufficient hours)

Library timetabling

Checkout system

Book collection quality & size

Cataloging & display of books

Library furniture

Literacy murals & posters

Student ownership of the library

Frequency of book checkout

Frequency & quality of read-aloud sessions

Student orientation to the library & book care

Hands Library Monitoring Form (LMF)Using the LMF, Hands Literacy Links mentor and monitor every Hands lending library to ensure best practices and sustainability.Student orientation to the

library and book care. Primary school students are taught how to handle books, fiction vs. non-fiction, parts of a book, how to use the library; secondary school students

are given orientation, how to use research resources.Book collection quality & size. Books are in good condition, sufficient amounts in each genre and reading level, books are appropriate

in content and reading level, sufficient books for student population, old and inap-propriate books have been removed.Book cataloging & display. Book inventory exists, books are levelled, color-coded and grouped appropriately, books are displayed with covers/spines facing out, shelves are

labeled, Color Code Guide is posted, books are at eye-lev-el, reachable by students.Checkout system. Is checkout system operational?

Consult ledger to see how regularly and consistently records are kept, if books are being checked in, and if library cards are issued.

Each Hands Wish Lists project’s LMF is a multipage, continuing narrative of the “people side” of the 16 key parameters of our Library Assessment Tool. Excerpts:

The new books from Hands created a buzz with our students, but also

brought out the book warriors in them. As the school’s librarian, I am acutely aware of which books are in high demand. I moni-tor the students as they take a book off the shelf—our library is small, so we have a limit of one book per student—and walk up to me with a smile on their face. Then one day I discovered that, in their quest to

secure favorite books they could not borrow on the day that they visited the library, students were hiding books in various places in the library. At first I was quite amused. But it became so chronic that I had to put a stop to it. I told students that they could not hide their favorite books because they are the favorite books of other students, too. Now the practice has stopped. Students are able to find and borrow books that they love and don’t have to go hunting for books hidden by the book warriors! – Mr. Asif Dover, Clare Valley Government School

When I open the library at 12:45 I have to fight my way through the

waiting students. They think the school’s new library is the coolest place to be.Kashena, Grade 3: “I borrow a new book every day. My favorite is Junie B. Jones. Having the library with so many books has helped me with my school work.”Szjhane, Grade 5: “We get to read all dif-ferent kinds of books and learn to read and get free time to release our stress and be free to be alone in a quiet place.”

Emaydin, Grade 5: “I am very glad the li-brary is here because it has helped me to be a better reader than before. I love adventure and princess books.”Drayton, Grade 2: “I love the library because the library has very pretty books. I like the books because they have sweet words.” – Barbara Martin, Library Manager, Willikies Primary School

Voices*Book Warriors of St. Vincent

User Reviews from Antigua

Everything is going great at Bense Primary School with the new books

from Hands. Student librarians run the

book checkout. There has been no prob-lem with lost or damaged books, but the superhero and Cars books are wearing out!

– Megan Re, U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer

Well Loved on Dominica

Last week a Grade K teacher was late, so the Principal took the whole class to

the library and started reading a story to them. Unfortunately, she did not have time

to finish it. The next morning, the children were waiting for her car and begging her to finish the story and asking her to read more books. – Jacqueline Vidal-Atherly, Hands Literacy Link, St. Lucia

Storytime Morning, St. Lucia

You’ll find the voices of 210 Caribbean educators and U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers on the GreatNonprofits website at: http://greatnonprofits.org/org/hands-across-the-sea-inc-1*

Charitable PartnersYou make the Hands mission possible. We and 73,626 Caribbean children thank you.

Income & ExpensesAll Hands financial documents are publicly

available on our website. Snapshots:

Harte-Hanks, Inc.hillus magnat excea velique qui inverestem estius and end of para, magnat ex velique!

Tropical Shippinghillibus magnat excea velique qui inverest-em estius and end of para. magnat qui!

2015 Income $616,816Individual $130,817 l 21% Foundation $186,934 l 30%Corporate $35,460 l 6%Government $0 l 0%In-Kind $263,602 l 43%

2015 Expenses $475,180Program $408,799 l 86% G & A $26,086 l 5%Fundraising $40,295 l 9%

Program vs. OverheadAs a U.S.-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity, the finances of Hands Across the Sea, including audited financials and IRS Form 990, are publically available for inspection and downloadable at:www.handsacrossthesea.net/HandsCrew.htm#documents

86%Program Services

14%AdminCosts

Hands Across the Sea | Income and Expenses | 2012 – 2015$600,000$550,000$500,000$450,000$400,000$350,000$300,000$250,000$200,000$150,000$100,000$50,000

0

2012 2013 2014 2015

Galley Bay Resort & SpaHarte-Hanks, Inc.Howland Evangelista Kohlenberg Burnett LLPJewish Community FederationLadera FoundationLIMEM.W. Hancock FundMarni & Morris Propp II Family FoundationMFund Inc.Middlecott FoundationMill Reef FundMoonhole FriendsOld Road FundRoger S. Firestone Foundation

Ross University School of MedicineSandals FoundationScotiabank Bright FutureSeaDream Yacht ClubSpice Island Marine ServicesStony Point FoundationSTS FoundationSugar Beach ResortTropical ShippingTrue Blue Bay ResortThe Verandah Resort & SpaWestern Union FoundationWilliam Ewing Foundation

AIT Worldwide LogisticsAmerican Sailing AssociationAnse Chastanet/Jade MountainAspen Grove FoundationAsplundh FoundationBeverly FoundationBlue Lagoon Hotel & Marina

Christmas Valley FoundationChristophe Harbour FoundationCrowell Family FoundationElias Nassief FoundationFastcash CaribbeanFoundation of Rappahannock RiverFour Seasons Homeowners Foundation

INCOMEEXPENSE

Corporate Partners & Foundations

Gifts of $10,000 and above Benjamin R. Bibler Memorial FundBeverly FoundationChristophe Harbour FoundationMill Reef FundSandals FoundationScotiabank Bright FutureWilliam Ewing Foundation

Gifts of $2,000 to $9,999 Anse Chastanet Hotel CharityAspen Grove FoundationChristmas Valley FoundationDavis/Zent Family FundFastcash CaribbeanTony FerroniFour Seasons Home- owners FoundationScott & Icy FrantzGalley Bay Resort & SpaMeredith & Whitney GeorgeKin HowlandMargo JeanchildWil & Beth KetchamLadera FoundationGerald & Janie LemoleLIME St. LuciaM. W. Hancock FundMFUNd, Inc.Pam & Phil MilnerMoonhole FriendsRussell NiemieAnne & David NoblesJohn and Mary NorbergOld Road FundRoger S. Firestone FoundationMark ScottSeaDream Yacht ClubStony Point FoundationSTS Foundation

Bank of America Matching John BarbaShari BerkowitzPia BertelliHarold BooyDaniel BrownMelandee BrownPaul BrownWilliam & Kara CaplanDan CeniccolaPeng ChaoRon CharlesDavid ChenowethChevron FoundationSandra ChinDonna ChisumFrederick ChristoffelJohn CopelandSusanna CorreiaMatthew CutoneSteven D’AgatiChet DalzellCheryl D’AngeloKevin DevineJoyce & Charles DolandCindy & Jay DombachRebecca DowneyMichael DunlaveyZetta ElliottJason ElsonTim FellarsKate & David FentressMike FerrandoAngela FerrelliSusannah & Jamie FinchKevin FlynnRobert FortinAnthony FraioliCatherine GadeckiJohn GageMarlene GarceauHans GrasmanMichael GuilletteWendy HafnerJeannie HarrisElin & John HarrisHelena HartnettAwilda HaskinsRobert & BJ HawesJessica & Parker HeinerJohn HenshawTed & Judy HerlihyDaniel HernandezJohn Hick

Sugar Beach ResortDave Ullman & Linda Taylor UllmanVerandah Resort & SpaWestern Union Foundation

Gifts of $1,000 to $1,999 MaryLee & Carl AlfordGwendolyn & Edward AsplundhDonald BeckmannBlue Lagoon Hotel & Marina, Ltd.Suzanne & Bob BowkerElias Nassief FoundationJoseph & Margarita GerardiSanford GoldenSuzanne GordonRandy & Debbie HarvellHowland EvangelistaRon Charles & Haydn Eugene Cam & Gretchen Lewis George LewisHarriet & TL LinskeyCathey & Don LynnPatricia Rahr MayerGregor & Sandra NassiefJohn & Amanda NealCraig & Judy PaulyMorris & Marni ProppRoss University School of MedicineMichael SchreiberHelen J. Serini FoundationDavid SliderJen & Scott SpringFoundation of Rappa- hannock River, Sullivan Family Legacy FundSt. John Webb True Blue Bay Resort

Gifts of $250 to $999Don & Karen AicklenGregory Alfred

AnonymousJacqueline AsplundhAsplundh FoundationAllegra Asplundh-SmithPatrick BennettStuart BevanMichael BleekerHoward BlumsteinMichael BradyElizabeth & Geoff BurnsDavid & Gretchen CantorDaniel CartierCBRE Foundation, Inc.COC Christian ChapelGretchen ColbyRob ColbySarah ConynghamMarylouise Crofton-AtkinsPeggy & Kevin CrowCrowell Family FoundationArthur De CordovaPieter de ZwartJohn DillonCharles DraytonZetta ElliottJeb & Dianne EmbreeStephanie FriedDavid GreaneyElaine HahnKathleen HaigoodJessie & John HarrisJohn & Corbin HarwoodCharles & Katrina HaskinsRod & Jill HearneFrances HoodHeidi HugheyRuss IrwinWhit & Marnie JacksonVictoria KingKnapp FamilyKyle KurzBob & Patsy LawrenceMary Ellen LeesSandy LinskeyCynthia LuffJoe MaloneGerry & Barbara MaurerJonathan & Libby McKeeMiddlecott FoundationRobert MillerJoan MorrisLori MorrowJan NgNorthwestern Mutual

FoundationJeff ObergHannah OberlanderKathy OberleSally & Richard ObregonRick & Julie PalmGigi & David PriebeMary Beth QuinlanJohn QuinlanMark RamsdellJohn RoganSyd & Diane RogersTed RossMaggie Salter & Al HickeyArthur SantelliRichard & Gloria SchmidtSeahorse MagazineJessica SetzlerLou & Katie ShapiroCraig ShermerKerry SikoraAllison SmithStephen SocolofSpice Island Marine ServicesState Street Foundation Matching Gift ProgramSteve Zuckerman & Debra Myerson Family FundStephen StillRob StrechayJohn & Rosemary SweeneyKerry TaylorMark ThompsonJim & Katie ThomsenMatthew van WagenenClaire WadlingtonSandy & Polly WakemanAndrew WalcoffCraig WilsonKaren WyscarverHilary & Peter ZacharyJustin ZaichkowskyCarl ZimetGregory Zimet

Gifts of $100 to $249 Valerie AdamsAssel AliyevaPeter AllenMaureen AmboBeth AsplundhToby Baker

Karen HindsWill HodgmanJohn HoranHenry HorseyMichele HuffHyewon HyuniGiveCarol & Dennis IsleibErrol JacksonMaggie JacksonConnie JaynesGeoff & Dotty JenkinsKevin JessamyRoger & Ilene KarlebachGrace KeplerEd KimballCraig KleinKathy & Chris KnightDaniel KuchtynSteven KyleErik KyleJohn LacyIda LaiAnne LandisTuck LandryAllan Beaufour LarsenMark LatosJohn LattyakMeyer LehmanKaty LinskeyGerard LordenJulia LucasMadeleine MaderEllen MarkowitzSheila MartinMary McCabeBeverly McCallaSheila McCurdyJonathan & Sylvia McGrawNancy McKelvyAlan McLaughlinMary MillerRichard MillerHelen & Robert MinchinEliza MindenVirginia NewtonAmy NgEve NicheliniTimothy NolanPelham & Laura NorvilleK. OleskeHenry OlszewskiSharon Parker

Ann ParsonCasey ParsonsRichard PatienceRobert PeasePhillip PetersonDiane PetraPatrice PetreePiper Jaffray Charitable Giving ProgramMarc PrioleauCraig RapinDavid RenollCurtis SawyerHank SchmittElaine ScottMelanie & Mark ScottRichard SeamanBill & Stacey SheahanJoan & Mike SimmonsShelly SmigelChristine & Brad SmithSteven SmithJeremy SpearJohn SpurzemJeff & Diane StaleyNan StarrAmy SteeleBonnie & Jim StollSusan SweeneyStephen SweeneyLori SydesSki TarnoskyTimothy TaylorCarol TeichMatthew TerichThomas TrainorGerald TuttlePeter & Christine Van AlstinePeter VealeMakenzie VegaJudith & John WadoskyBeth WaitkusJonathan WalshKimberly WardDavid WatsonDavid WeigleRyan WelchPeter & Carol WillauerBrad & Ann WillauerGary WuReginald Wyatt

Gifts of $99 and under Andy AbendscheinKaren AcreeTeri Akai-IbanezIngrid AkersMelissa AlexanderRashawna AlfredAngela AllardAmazon Smile FoundationRoss AndersonSpencer AndersonSteven AndersonRebecca AndreoliNicole AnuszewskiMichael ArthursPamela AuldMargaret Ellen BairdCarolyn & Jim BakerSteve BakerKatrina BarreMartha BashJames BeckAnnie BeckerRobert BeckettSharon BellAlana BendlerJohn BesslerWilliam BinghamJeffrey BlairCharles BleamKatie BlockBruce BlokRichard BoardmanTerry BoazKathy BoccellaRichard BondyChris BooneJulie BradleyChris BrearMichael BreiningerMark BrennanAlison BrettMichael BrickelValera BrickelBrian BrightDoug BristolClifford BrosnanLouise BrownCraig BrownJason BrowningKelly BryantLisa BuckleyGermaine Calliste(continued on next page)

2015 SupportersYour caring support has made a tremendous difference. Thank Youfor giving the gift of literacy.

Gifts of $99 and under Bruce CampbellJoanne CannonHenry CanterburyStephen CarlsonKent CarterJoseph CartierJohn CaseyGregg CharbonneauRobert ChaseSarah ChorneyChris CiaffaDiane ClarkJohn ClarkOnysha CollinsSeth ConleyJeffrey CooperRobyn CooperPeter CorcoranJeremiah CressLou CrishockScott CrislipOrlando CruzAnn CrytserGreg CullingDaniel CullingDonna CurtisJeff DarrJanet DavenportPaul DavisKenneth DaweMichael DawsonKristen DeanMichael DeckerKathleen DedonMichael DerisoDan DerrickEric DierksDuke DivineJoshua DohertyAmanda DombachMatthew DormondGeorge DoughertyJohn DoyleJohn DuckJane DufaultCasey Dulong

Elaine MooneyXavier MooreLisa Robin MoralesCherie MorrisBarbara MorrisonKen MorrisonRick MorrisonPhilippe MouffletJames MowryScott MunroePatricia MunsonElizabeth NeasonMargaret NielsenAlicia O’ConnellByron ObrienLarry & Peggy OkuneffShea OliverEskil OlsenOMAM Charitable FoundationBrian O’NeillLinda OueletteJacqueline OwensRobert OwensKarl PanzerChristina PareJohn ParksLaura PatchenDonald PateAlaine PattonStephen PaymentStephen PayneDaniel PedersenJulie PehoskiHailey PellonNorvella PendergrassTimo PfluegerTram PhamChuck PhillipsJacquelyn PillsburyJohn PoidevantCristian PopHolly PopowskiRobert PowisBrian PrimostRobin ProvostLuis RamosJoseph RayzorPaul ReidTom ReimerErin RhodesRobert RhodesMatthew RichterLisa Rising-Patchen

Donald DunningKeith DyeAshley EidsmoreChristine EllsayPreston ElrodEileen EmmanuelJohn EstesJudith FabianMark FabrosJin FangJose FernandezJamie FernsMichael FidanzaMike FinlaysonJonathan FinleyHeather FlemingJeff FolksKevin ForanDebbie FoxRobert FullerRichard GardSandi GarrisonJames GartonWilliam GibbsWilliam GillilanJoan GilmoreDaniel GoldbergDavid GoldenAndrea GontkovskyMichael GordonRobert GordonSteve GordonAndrew GorelikTom GorhamKen GrabowskiAria GrabowskiWilliam GrahamAlan GrallEric GrantzJessica GreathouseElizabeth GreweMartin GrissomSuzanne GrosbyRoni GrossmanRalph GuppyChristine GyovaiWilliam Hall

Larry HalvorsonTim HammerMargot HandMarta HannanRobert HardyCraig HarlandMichael HarrellRichard HartE. HaussJohn HautJoshua HebrankJennifer HellpapPatrick HendersonChris HendersonMauro HernandezAlexis HetheringtonRobert HickJohn HildebrandRichard HindsLinda HinesJohn HinesThomas HolderithEric HortonEmbry HowellCarl HudsonPaul & Barbara HunterMarcia HusbandKirk JacksonMolly JacksonJonathan JaffeTina JailletLance JenningsBrian JohnsonDaniel JohnsonLynne JohnsonLisa JonesLeonard JonesDaniel JordanAnn JournellPeter KalackiRichard KarshneskiRod KaufmanChad KegerreisGeorge KeilmanMatthew KepnerCharles KerrLawrence KimPeter KimAnna KiserGerald KiuttuMatthias KleinSue KnappMikhail KobyakovCorinna Koehnenkamp

Joan KomolafeStefan KrewerthDavid KurtzKaren KurzLynn KuzneskiMartine LacombeGiovanna LagunaRobert LancasterWilliam LavanneDiana LawrenceRachel LeeNathan LemmonKristy LeonPaul LewisDavid LimbertJennifer LinaresTim ListonScott LockwoodJeff LoebBill & Kate LoganKeith LondresJennifer LucasTom LundinKathleen LundvallNatalie LynchDian LyttelJoe MacintyreAlly MancusoJesse MandelAva MandevilleMassimo MarchiDaniel MarquesJ.J. MartinMagdalena MasachsLyle MayerAdrian McCabeMollie McCurdyThomas McGarrityMichael McIverDouglas MechamKrista Mellinger-DeromaAnthony MelloJean-Claude MercierPaul MermelsteinChristy MerrimanSpencer & Louise MilesKellie Patchen & Jack MillerGregg MillerLisa MillhoneSarah MinkusEileen MiserendinoLeah MoakAnna MonaghanDan Monlux

John & K. RobinsonLeah RobinsonRoger RomingerDouglas RossRoger RossittoDouglas RoweJanis & Sarah RozenbergsDavid RudmanElizabeth RundlettRobin RuschmanSteven SacksJulia SandersDavid SantiagoW.G. SarrellScott SaundersAnita ScargallRalph ScargallSteven ScarlataRobert SchendelBruce SchielNoah SchmelzerCarol SchroederMike SchultzDouglas ScottNoelle SearlsDaniel SegalDaniel SeligerMelanie SenftMarilyn SharpeDavid ShinkfieldRandy ShiraSamuel ShopinskiSteve ShorttBrita SiepkerLeala SimichEd SinclairJohn SingletonRoger SintaBrad SlackArianne SmithBen & Susan SmithBridget SmithColin SmithKirt SmithMark SmithDebra SorgenfreyDonald StaffordMatthew StarkNorm StauntonJoseph SteinElizabeth StevensJohn StevensEric StoenMichael Stokes

William StraubScott SullivanTimothy SullivanGreg SuttonErnest TamayoRob TannehillLia TaylorSam ThomaJulie ThomasRichard ThomasTommy TobiassenBrendan Thomas TooleMichael TortoraChi TranBarbara TreckerAmy TrimboDavid TurnerCarl TurzianoBrad TytelMary UelmenRudy VallejoPeter Van AlstineBert van ToornburgRick van ValkenbugJemina Varghese AndrewesAlex VasilieffMelanie VerceVerizon Matching GrantJulie ViaWilliam VigilBryan VincentJo WagnerAndrea WallaceHarold WallaceGeorge WaltonKevin WarapiusEric WardenEdward WareJonathan WareHelen Watson

Michael WeinertMeredith WeirNancy WelchLaura WetherbeeToni WhitakerKatie & Chris WhiteKirstina WhitfordPhilippa WhittleNikoal WilliamsRandall WilliamsTracy WilliamsBruce WilsonChristopher WilsonGerald WilsonGiselle WinchesterBonnie WolfSusie & Clay WommackDaniel WoodworthVaughan Wynne-JonesPamela YergerPaul YostShannon YoungStephanie ZanowicJennifer Zeile

In-Kind GiftsAIT Worldwide LogisticsAmerican Sailing AssociationCongregational Church of WestboroElite Island ResortsZetta ElliottCarolyn GarthHarte-Hanks, Inc.Kathy & Chris KnightMcGraw-Hill EducationSylvia RossBill & Stacey SheahanTropical Shipping

Hands Across the Sea, Inc.P.O. Box 55071, Suite 85043Boston, MA 02205 U.S.A.Tel: 617-320-3601E-mail: harriet@handsacrossthesea.net tl@handsacrossthesea.net amanda@handsacrossthesea.netWeb: www.handsacrossthesea.net

2015 Supporters (continued)Your caring support has made a tremendous difference. Thank You for giving the gift of literacy.