Mercedes-Benz USA and Atlanta Falcons’ Bijan Robinson Team Up with Little Free Library to Build 175 Book-Sharing Boxes Across the Country

April 25, 2024 at 09:30 AM EDT

More than 250 MBUSA employee volunteers, along with MBUSA brand ambassador Bijan Robinson, constructed 175 Little Free Libraries to be filled with books and installed nationwide
The National Volunteer Week event is part of MBUSA’s corporate social responsibility initiative, Driving Your Future, which focuses on empowering the next generation
The initiative aims to promote literacy and increase access to books across the country

Yesterday, Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) employees and Atlanta Falcons player Bijan Robinson joined forces with nonprofit organization Little Free Library to build 175 book-sharing boxes, which will be filled with thousands of donated books and installed in communities across the country that have limited access to reading materials, including communities in Atlanta. Little Free Library aims to promote literacy and community engagement by offering free access to books through small, publicly accessible book-sharing stations. Users are encouraged to take a book they are interested in reading and leave a book they have finished for others to enjoy, fostering a continuous cycle of reading and sharing within their neighborhood.

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Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons Running Back and MBUSA Brand Ambassador, with preschool students and Little Free Library. (Photo: Business Wire)

The event was part of MBUSA’s National Volunteer Week program, which features a series of give-back opportunities for employees. The collaboration with Little Free Library reinforces MBUSA's commitment to promoting literacy through its corporate social responsibility program, Driving Your Future, aiming to empower the next generation by supporting educational programs, career readiness and child safety.

"As an athlete, I understand the power of teamwork, and this collaboration demonstrates how coming together can make a meaningful impact. By providing access to books through Little Free Library, we're not just sharing stories – we’re also opening doors to learning and furthering curiosity in children across the country, including right here in Atlanta – and I’m so proud to be a part of that."

Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons Running Back and MBUSA Brand Ambassador

"We are immensely proud of what we have accomplished together with Little Free Library, thanks to the unwavering dedication of our employee volunteers. Yesterday’s build event was all about igniting a passion for reading and fostering literacy at all ages. We are pleased to provide little free libraries, along with new and donated books to fill the book-sharing boxes, to encourage a love for reading in communities across the country and right here in our backyard."

Dimitris Psillakis, President and CEO of MBUSA

The event brought together more than 250 MBUSA employee volunteers at the MBUSA headquarters. In addition to building the book-sharing libraries, MBUSA employee volunteers made 200 sustainable bookmarks and collected used books across the country to provide to local communities.

As part of MBUSA’s wider National Volunteer efforts, MBUSA employees also participated in a virtual reading activity in collaboration with Share The Magic Foundation, an organization dedicated to transforming the lives of children through literacy. Employees conducted a virtual read-aloud benefitting 600 students across Sunset Park Elementary in North Carolina and Norma Butler Bossard Elementary School in Miami.

"Seeing people come together to support literacy and share in the joy of reading creates waves of positive energy. Partnering with Mercedes-Benz USA allows us to bring Little Free Library to areas where we can have significant impact. Each library is more than just a home for books; it's a beacon of community engagement, learning and shared stories. We are grateful for the enthusiasm and dedication of Mercedes-Benz USA employee volunteers, and we look forward to seeing the ripple effects of this successful event in fostering a love of reading in the neighborhoods served.”

Greig Metzger, Executive Director of Little Free Library

About Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), headquartered in Atlanta, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service for all Mercedes-Benz products in the United States. MBUSA offers drivers the most diverse lineup in the luxury segment with 18 model lines ranging from the sporty GLA SUV to the flagship S-Class and the dynamic all-electric vehicles from Mercedes-Benz. MBUSA is also responsible for Mercedes-Benz Vans in the U.S. More information on MBUSA and its products can be found at www.mbusa.com and www.mbvans.com.

“Driving Your Future” is Mercedes-Benz USA's corporate social responsibility initiative to support educational programs that empower the next generation. As part of our commitment to positively impact communities where employees live and work, MBUSA has partnered with Safe Kids Worldwide and Junior Achievement USA to create and support programs focused on technology and sustainability, career readiness, and injury prevention to help the next generation succeed. To learn more about Driving Your Future, please visit www.mbusa.com/en/corporate-social-responsibility.

Accredited journalists can visit our media site at media.mbusa.com.

About Little Free Library:

Little Free Library® (LFL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that builds community, inspires readers and expands book access for all through a global network of volunteer-led Little Free Library book-sharing boxes. There are more than 180,000 registered Little Free Libraries worldwide in all 50 states, in 121 countries and on all seven continents. Through them, over 400 million books have been shared since 2009. LFL received the 2020 World Literacy Award as well as honors from the Library of Congress, National Book Foundation and others. The organization grants Little Free Libraries full of books to underserved areas through its Impact Library and Indigenous Library programs and champions diverse books through its Read in Color initiative. To learn more, visit LittleFreeLibrary.org.