Our Story
Bookworm Central was founded with the wish to incessantly benefit and positively impact children’s lives both in the now and in their futures by providing easy access to quality books. Radhika Bajaj opted for fundraising book fairs as a platform that not only promised children direct and quick access to great books but ensured additional giving into the schools and the community, another driving priority behind the creation of Bookworm.
As the company took form, Radhika was joined by a dear friend, Laurie Rothenberg, and together they built the company that would curate books, bring customized book fairs into schools and diligently collect and review data to better their offerings and services.
Bookworm Central operated from a leased warehouse space in Fairfax. The efforts at Bookworm evolved and a technology development team was formed. It was during this time that Bookworm Central launched the first online book fair. The idea was clearly a few years ahead of its time but amazing enough that to date it continues to serve customers.
Bookworm Central moved into larger warehouses in Manassas. Since then, the scope of work continues to expand to building customized literacy programs, providing an updated online shopping platform, operating as a bulk order fulfillment/distribution facility, and offering special services such as training and workshops for literacy supporters.
Year to year, Bookworm has progressively grown in stature and offerings while its committed team remains unwavering dedicated to personal, prompt and caring service. It ceaselessly devotes time and resources to nurturing community connections and collaborations so as to be accessible to anyone who wishes to support the love of reading and learning.
Bookworm’s chronicled journey is about touching children’s lives; it is about the power of stories and their telling, it is about opening minds and hearts, it is about putting new wonderful ideas out there in the world; it is about presenting gifts with the potential to give for life, it is about the hope of a better, happier and wholesome tomorrow for all.
Guiding Principles
All the world is my school and all humanity is my teacher.
– George WhitmanThe best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.
– H. Jackson BrownIf you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.
– Gordon A. EadieThe most important thing in communication is to hear what isn’t being said.
– Peter F. DruckerGuiding Principles
All the world is my school and all humanity is my teacher.
– George WhitmanThe best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.
– H. Jackson BrownIf you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.
– Gordon A. EadieThe most important thing in communication is to hear what isn’t being said.
– Peter F. DruckerA leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to.
– Rosalynn CarterAs we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.
– John F. KennedyChildren are a priority. Change is the reality. Collaboration is the strategy.
– Judith BoilingsThere is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.
– Margaret WheatleyInnovation is the ability to see change and an opportunity – not a threat.
– Steve JobsThe meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.
– Pablo PicassoStewardship is the hallmark of life on Earth.
– Sunday AdelajaDo ordinary things extraordinarily well.
– Gregg HarrisIn every community there is work to be done. In every nation there are wounds to heal. In every heart there is the power to do it.
– Marianne WilliamsonComing together is a beginning. Keeping together is a process. Working together is success.
– Henry FordPositive thoughts, positive actions, positive results.
– Lisa BoehningI have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.
– MLKGrowing Fine Minds
Connecting Books and Readers
We believe that good literature has the power to provoke thought, spark imagination, and shape character. It reinforces the concepts essential to civilized society: courage, compassion, integrity, goodness, and gratitude. Books bring these gifts to life, helping children develop inner resources that can be drawn upon throughout their lives.
Book Fairs
Bulk Orders
Literacy Programs – Bookworm Initiatives
Collaborative Partnerships
Special Services