Fresno 9-year-old adds new dimension to her Reading Heart program

Fresno 9-year-old Danay Ferguson added another piece to her Reading Heart program Friday, announcing a partnership with the Fresno Police Department to donate 1,200 books for patrol officers to give to children around the city.

Danay wanted to open a bookstore – that was, until she realized some people wouldn’t be able to afford the books. Her goal shifted: She would donate books to those less fortunate in hospitals.

She started her program (called Reading Heart, she says, “because I read with my own heart”) in September and has been building it ever since.

Fresno police said at Friday’s announcement that patrol officers will distribute books to children they encounter on the street, schools or on police calls, giving officers another way to have positive interaction with children.

This story was originally published October 30, 2015 at 5:27 PM with the headline "Fresno 9-year-old adds new dimension to her Reading Heart program."