We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Leslie Gang. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Leslie below.
Leslie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. One of the most important things small businesses can do, in our view, is to serve underserved communities that are ignored by giant corporations who often are just creating mass-market, one-size-fits-all solutions. Talk to us about how you serve an underserved community.
Hindi’s Libraries was created as a legacy of Dr. Hindi Krinsky who suddenly passed away. A devoted Mother and Wife, Hindi was a passionate advocate for literacy– sharing and spreading that love with all of the students she encountered.
After starting with a small free library that grew into an international effort, we feel there is no better way to honor and support her legacy than to promote one of her greatest loves, books and literacy.
We provide books– 100% free of cost to recipients– internationally. Most often, our books go to under-resourced and underserved areas including Literacy Deserts; Shelters; and Title 1 Schools. Research from Scholastic states that nearly two-thirds of low-income families do not have suitable reading material in their home.
Here at Hindi’s, we provide those books. Sometimes, the only book a child has ever owned!
Leslie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
As I mentioned prior, our organization was created to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Hindi Krinsky. She was dedicated to ensuring that children experience the magic and wonder of literature: to experience joy and excitement within the pages of a story.
The efforts began as a small free library that snowballed into a huge organization. For those who would like to further learn about our origin story, we highly recommend googling our Today Show Feature.
To date, we have donated over 415,000 free books to children who desperately need them and partnered with notable organizations and names such as Susan Egan, Zoo Atlanta, and The Miss Volunteer America Pageant.
How’d you meet your business partner?
I was the Communications Coordinator at the school where Hindi worked. After her sudden passing, families wanted to support Dovid and his children, so indirectly, I became in charge of coordinating meals and things that he might need while grieving and supporting his children.
A friendship blossomed, and once we saw the desperate need and demand for children to have books, we jumped into action, knowing that we could make a tremendous impact in her name.
Have you ever had to pivot?
The moment that we decided to make Hindi’s Libraries an official non-profit and expand our reach was a huge turning point for us. We knew that there was a deep demand, and a significant need, for children’s books.
We did not set out to be the people that fulfilled that need, but Dovid and myself are committed to ensuring that every child can experience the magic and wonder of getting lost in an amazing story.
There have been stressful times, and financially challenging times, but we continue to keep going. The sweet photos of smiling kids recieving their books doesn’t hurt! 
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hindislibraries.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hindislibraries/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hindislibraries/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/hindislibraries
- Other: https://www.today.com/video/honoring-a-teacher-s-love-of-literature-by-putting-books-in-hands-of-kids-134410821702