Dennis Dulniak, president of Nana’s Books Foundation, visited St. Anthony Catholic School in Washington, D.C., on April 7 to donate more than 600 books to students and classrooms as part of an initiative to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and other physical and mental disabilities.
The foundation, created in memory of Dulniak’s late wife, Nancy, has provided more than 20,000 books to Title I schools across 11 states and Washington, D.C., since its founding. Nancy Dulniak, a lifelong librarian, died in 2021 after a seven-year battle with early-onset Alzheimer’s. She worked as a cataloger at Florida A&M University’s law school library and was diagnosed at age 62.
“She loved being called Mom and knew she wanted to be a librarian from when she got her first library card at 7 years old,” Dulniak said during an assembly with students and faculty. “I’m here today to share her story and this foundation because she loved to be called Nana.”
Dulniak, who has a doctorate in Higher Education Administration, said his wife’s condition worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, when they were separated for 28 weeks. After her death in January 2021, he and his sons founded Nana’s Books to honor her legacy and help children develop compassion and understanding for people with disabilities.
The foundation selects grade-appropriate books that address Alzheimer’s, dementia and other disabilities for distribution to students, classrooms and school libraries. St. Anthony Catholic School, a Title I school in The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, received 613 books to benefit its 221 students. Each student received at least one book, with additional titles donated for classroom and library use.
During the assembly, Michael Thomasian, the principal of St. Anthony Catholic School, asked Dulniak how the number of 613 books was determined. Dulniak replied there wasn’t any special significance—he had calculated based on the number of students, classrooms and the library’s needs. Thomasian then noted with a smile that June 13, or 6/13, happens to be the feast day of St. Anthony of Padua, the school’s patron saint.
In the question-and-answer portion of the assembly, Dulniak and Thomasian responded to students’ questions. One student asked whether Alzheimer’s was contagious, prompting Dulniak to explain that it is not something one can “catch” like a cold. Another student asked, “Once memory is lost, is it gone forever?” Dulniak responded that memory loss can vary – sometimes memories return, and sometimes they do not. He also told students that there are more than 100 types of dementia, with Alzheimer’s being the most common and widely recognized form.
Throughout the discussion, Dulniak emphasized the importance of compassion, understanding and education about people living with memory loss and disabilities.
“Awareness is the key to understanding and compassion towards ‘special people,’” said school librarian Cecile Salonga, who initially contacted the foundation and led the months-long application process. “I am grateful to Nana’s Books Foundation for providing our students with 600-plus books and talking with them about Alzheimer’s, dementia and other disabilities.”
Thomasian thanked the foundation for both the educational and emotional value of the donation.
“St. Anthony students are readers and will be excited to explore the new additions to our collection,” he said. “Just as significantly, we’re grateful for the education and awareness surrounding Alzheimer’s and dementia. We all know a parent, grandparent or friend whose life has been affected by these diseases, but we often don’t talk about it. It’s difficult and sad to watch a loved one decline mentally, especially for a young person. Even more reason why Nana’s Books Foundation should be commended for their great work. They lovingly combine literacy with education and compassion.”
Joining Dulniak for the visit was author and board member Deborah L. Mills, who read her book Granny Needs My Help to kindergarten students. Mills, who cared for her ailing mother alongside her grandchildren, said during the assembly, “We wrote this book about my mom.”
While the original plan included scheduled story readings, Dulniak’s visit to Chanda Foreman’s first grade class turned into a candid conversation. Students asked about his visit and the foundation’s mission. Dulniak explained his wife’s story and the foundation’s purpose.
“Really,” he told the class, “it was to help children learn compassion, kindness and to have more understanding about people who are different than you – through these storybooks that teach about people.”
Many students came to school dressed in purple in recognition of Alzheimer’s and dementia awareness.
First grader Christian Samuel shared his love for books and named the How Do Dinosaurs series as his favorite.
Books delivered to the school were provided through both Scholastic and Nana’s Books Foundation. Each included a bookplate telling the story of Nancy Dulniak. The foundation encouraged students and teachers to reflect on how the books have impacted their understanding and compassion. These impact statements may be submitted to the foundation to support future grant applications.
In addition to St. Anthony Catholic School, Nana’s Books has donated books this spring to Title I schools in Vermont, New York, Florida and New Jersey. A total of 7,251 books have been distributed this season to 2,994 students in eight schools.
To learn more about Nana’s Books Foundation or to support its mission, visit www.nanasbooks.org.
