The California Study, Inc.
Our unique organization was founded in 1975 (incorporated as a charity in 1987) by volunteer Executive Director, Marilyn Nemzer, in order to provide educational resources to kids, their teachers, families, schools and non-profits. It began as The Study, a private tutoring service for students of all ages throughout the SF Bay Area, and soon added the Teachers’ Registry, a teacher placement service for private schools. These projects were operated by The California Study for fifteen years, giving outstanding service to families and schools. Our organization moved on to other exciting new projects and programs.
Current project is Energy for Keeps (Energy Education Group) ~ Energy for Keeps: Creating Clean Electricity from Renewable Resources is an award-winning, highly illustrated primer about renewable energy for readers 6th grade and higher. Authored and published by the Energy Education Group in 2003, with second edition in 2010. We are very excited that our book is currently being updated for new publication!
Book Exchange (of Marin formerly Global Book Exchange) was started over 35 years ago by emeritus CEO Marilyn Nemzer as an environmentally conscious alternative to the landfill for local schools and libraries. Over the years, more than 1 million donated books have been provided to local school children, teachers, families and non profits, as well as to schools and orphanages in over 40 countries around the world!
In recent years, the focus shifted primarily to serving children from Marin’s Title 1 schools. Since 2014 the project has been bringing students on class field trips to its facility in San Rafael where volunteers help them choose a bag full of free books to take home. The project also provides free or low cost books to teachers for their use in the classroom, as well as providing books to other non profit organizations serving under-resourced communities.
For a list of the honors and awards from past years, please see this page: Awards and Honors
The Book Exchange is now the Book Exchange of Marin. As of June 1, 2024, it is no longer a project of The California Study, Inc. Assets and operations have been transferred to the Book Exchange of Marin, a stand-alone 501 (c) (3) non-profit.
The Book Exchange of Marin is still an all volunteer organization, so any donations and revenues go directly to its mission of promoting child literacy, encouraging a love of reading, and working to ensure that all children have access to books. Under the leadership of Co-Directors Diane Brandell and Carolyn Beazley, the Book Exchange of Marin operates the same joyous literacy program that gets books to thousands of under-resourced children every year. It is still located in San Rafael, California and is operating with the same amazing and growing all-volunteer team. Book Exchange of Marin has a highly energized Board of Directors, led by President Bruce Burtch. As Emeritus CEO of the former Book Exchange, Marilyn Nemzer, founder of the original Book Exchange in 1987, is excited to be a member of the Book Exchange of Marin board of directors.PLEASE VISIT and learn more about it at www.bookexchangemarin.org.
Other past and less active projects of The California Study include The Study, Teachers’ Registry, School Success Counseling, Friends of Community Builders, Ally Circle Courageous Youth Leadership.
The California Study – dba Energy for Keeps, Energy Education Group
a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization based in Tiburon, CA
Tax ID #94-2860620