LEXINGTON, Ky. — A Kentuckian from Hazard has books to thank for his success, because of the knowledge he has gained from reading. He has now created a company that works to provide free books for children. 

What You Need To Know

  • Jonathan Beatty says books are to credit for his success

  • Beatty wants to help children around the world gain access to books

  • Beatty created "I Love Books" to help with illiteracy issue within the country

  • Beatty grew up in low income town in Kentucky, and is hoping to encourage and motivate others through reading

Coming from a small, low income town in Kentucky, Jonathan Beatty says books were his one escape. 

“I grew up in Lots Creek, Kentucky which is not a very wealthy part of the states. Southeast Kentucky is one of the most impoverished areas in the United States, and so without books, I would never have been able to explore the world outside of my little 5,000 person town which I love, but I felt like the world was so much bigger than what I was seeing,” Beatty said.

Reading books throughout the years, Beatty moved around the country, working in the business industry until one day he found his true calling.

“Initially back in 2014, when I was living in Oakland (California), I saw homelessness in a way that I'd never seen. And I couldn't understand why this problem existed, so I felt very compelled and this massive internal conviction of you is part of the problem because you're not using your gifts and your talents and your resources to address it,” Beatty said.

After years of research, Beatty says everything pointed back to books, providing resources to address the illiteracy issue within the country and with that, he created I Love Books. 

“I decided to create what I call the brand of education, and I love books, and use the profits to do the good that we want to see in our community, ”Beatty said.

The company takes a portion of their clothing sales to purchase books for children and throughout the past few months, Beatty has donated thousands of books around the state. He hopes to break the negative stereotype surrounding illiteracy and create a solution around his hometown. 

“I wanted to be one of the people who shows that not only is this a false narrative for a lot of people from southeast Kentucky, from Hazard. I also wanted to be one of the people who created a solution and didn't just talk about the problem,” Beatty said.

"I Love Books" is planning two book donation drives within the next few months. Dropping off more than a few thousand books to different nonprofits and schools around the state.