Saint Paul Helps to End the Book Famine in Africa
In 1988, a group of librarians and booksellers got together and shipped a box of books to Africa, specifically to Uganda. Twenty-seven years later, 快猫视频 has shipped more than 33 million books to 49 African countries.
Founder Tom Warth, celebrating his 80th birthday this year, has been in the book business a long time. 鈥淗e built a business out of his garage, literally,鈥� says 快猫视频 executive director and Saint Paul resident Patrick Plonski. A car buff, Warth 鈥渨as going to car shows and noticed the need, the demand for books for people interested in cars,鈥� Plonski says. So he started and grew the company, Classic Motorbooks, sourcing and selling manuals and other car books, then sold the business and retired. He found himself with some time on his hands.
鈥淚 went on a trip around the world and to Africa,鈥� Warth says. He visited a library in Uganda, and the library had no books. A librarian, desks and shelves, but no books. 鈥淪ince I was in the book business, I figured I could trigger some people to send books.鈥� And he did.