Our Story

After a spring-break visit to New York in March 2020, Anaik’s mother was diagnosed with Covid-19. During those weeks at home, Anaik found solace in books, they helped him escape isolation even as his family struggled with illness. This discovery of books gave him the perfect dose of mental relief. Soon after, his grandmother tested positive and was hospitalized, and Anaik realized how harsh and cold isolation can be. “I would FaceTime her during her stay at the hospital and I saw she had no sunlight in her room. She couldn’t interact with anyone, it felt so lonely. Back home, we were reading books to pass time. I thought to myself that books could be a great escape for loneliness at the hospital,” Anaik recalls. What began as an experiment to help his grandmother soon transformed into a way for thousands of patients to battle isolation through books. He launched Anaik’s Loving Library on his 8th birthday as a way to give back to his community.

testimonials

What People are Saying?

"Anaik has taken his most difficult life experiences and used them to create a better world. His family was deeply impacted by Covid-19, and he responded by making sure other people had access to books as they fought the virus. He has experienced discrimination and responded by hoping educate other young people and improve education curriculum. If there were more people like Anaik, it would be a better world."

Kate Gallego

Mayor of Phoenix | @ City of Phoenix AZ

“During a frightening and uncertain time for so many, Anaik’s genuine care, compassion and empathy is a wonderful example for all of us. This young boy made more of an impact than he’ll ever know. Not just for our patients who received books and journals, but for the healthcare providers and our foundation team who witnessed his ‘love in action’ firsthand. Thank you, Anaik!”

Marcia Scott

VP of Marketing of Communications @Valleywise Health Foundation

"The most important piece of it is when you explain where these books are coming from - from a Loving Library, from this young boy, 8-years old, that is such a giving soul. It means so much more"

Monica Miller

Nurse @ Valleywise Health

"I think we always need to remember, like Anaik, we can always do something to get involved. Oftentimes, we, I think as humans focus on the problems and we can become entrenched in that and here you have this little boy that sees a problem but then very quickly takes the initiative to create some really amazing solutions. "