The mission is dedicated to continuing Caitlyn Carman’s legacy through support of organizations committed to children, education, literacy and teaching. This is why we donate books. You can nominate a class or teacher for a Book Giveaway in Caitlyn's honor, please visit our Facebook page to do so. Also, more information about past book giveaways can be found below.
April 1, 2022 - Today we continued our week of giving in honor of Caitlyn’s birthday two days ago. We visited 63 first graders at Robert Frost Elementary. These students were so welcoming and polite! When one first grader was asked what she had learned, her reply was “I learned Caitlyn loves making people laugh, she shares, she always had a jar of candy in her car and that she wanted to be a teacher when she grew up”. I believe we did a good job as that answer was correct! Thank you Robert Frost for having us!
February 25, 2022 - Last week we had the pleasure of visiting with 100 first graders at Hayward Elementary. They learned about kindness, patience, living life to the fullest and of course sharing candy and laughing a lot! They each received new books, stickers and of course some Sour Patch Kids. Thank you Miss Engelson and all the other first grade teachers for welcoming Live Like Cat!
February 5, 2022 - We had the honor of visiting with 110 first graders at Harrisburg Liberty Elementary. What a great group! The Principal, Aaron Weaver, was so welcoming. Miss Dahl’s mom, Lisa, made a surprise visit from Watertown to see Live Like Cat in action. What a great day to honor Caitlyn and spread her love!
November 21, 2021 - On Friday we had the honor of visiting two second grade classrooms at Harrisburg Adventure Elementary. This is the first class visit we have been able to do since Covid. The students were so eager to learn Living Like Cat lessons. We handed out new books to all students and even played a new game. Caitlyn is working her loving magic through every student who chooses to live a little more caring and genuinely. Thank you Miss Maddie Miller and Mrs. Jenny Barthel for having us! PS - we also learned Mrs. Barthel, like Caitlyn, is Pi Beta Phi alumni from USD!
October 8, 2021 - Live Like Cat fact: all books donated to students, classrooms and teachers are brand new books. Lexi Bohn is in her 7th year of teaching. She currently teaches at Harrisburg Freedom Elementary. Lexi needed some additional books for her classroom library which Live Like Cat happened to have on hand.
August 15, 2021 - Meet Olivia Nieman. Olivia was a close friend of Caitlyn’s. She is the creator of the “Life Lessons Learned from Cat”. Olivia will be a new teacher at Garfield Elementary. Those second graders are lucky to have her! Olivia was given books for her classroom based on her Amazon wish list.
August 12, 2021 - Introducing Kayli Fitz. Kayli’s Amazon wishlist was selected by Live Like Cat. Kayli is a new teacher in Harrisburg teaching K-5 art. Enjoy your new beautiful art related books Kayli!
August 7, 2021 - These beautiful new books are going to Patrick Henry in Miss Erickson’s ELA classroom. These books were chosen by LLC based on Kenzie’s wishlist. Let’s see those wishlists! You may be chosen.
August 1, 2021 - Dawn Sigl’s class wishlist was chosen by LLC to receive the books needed for her classroom library at Robert Frost Elementary.
December 22, 2020 - Live Like Cat was happy to gift some books and stickers to the 4 year room at TNT Playcare. The teacher, Miss Becca, has been friends with Caitlyn since the kindergarten and is a huge supporter of LLC.
September 21, 2020 - Books and flash cards sent to Gretna, NE. Miss Kelly was a friend, sorority sister and Strollers member with Caitlyn. Gretna Public School’s slogan this year is to be kind. The students agreed after hearing ‘The Life Lessons Learned by Cat’ that Caitlyn fit that slogan. Thank you Miss Kelly for honoring Caitlyn. We hope you enjoy the books and your first year of teaching.
September 18, 2020 - Mrs. Ibis has a big bag of beautiful books going to new teachers at Whittier Middle School. Ironically, Alex had Mrs. Ibis when she attended Whittier. Are you a new teacher in need of books for your classroom library? Contact us!
September 17, 2020 - Some beautiful books that have found a new home in Miss Erickson’s classroom at Patrick Henry. She is super excited her classroom will have the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. Her students have asked for it. Enjoy your new books from Live Like Cat.
September 8, 2020 - Mrs. Schiltz’s first grade classroom at Johnson Elementary in Spencer, Iowa. Which coincidentally was the same school Barb went to 1st grade at. Sara is a first year teacher, Live Like Cat wanted to congratulate her and welcome her students with brand new books. Have a great year!
March 26, 2020 - Unfortunately we had class visits planned that couldn't happen right now. But we still found a way to get the books and Caitlyn’s love out there. Thank you Mrs. Skogstad for helping arrange the books to be distributed via the buses and also at Garfield Elementary. Keep an eye out for more books to still get to the kiddos.
From Mrs. Skogstad: The students and staff at Garfield Elementary are so thankful for the generous donation of books! We were able to provide students with a book during our Food and Supply bus route today and also had some at school for the students who came in for a lunch. It was amazing to see their smiles when they found out that they could keep the book! I also read one of the books during my daily message to our students and talked with them about the amazing person that Caitlyn was!
March 6, 2020 - We visited 87 second graders at Explorer Elementary. We surprised a friend of Caitlyn's, Miss Maddie Miller.
December 13, 2019 - Mrs. Koenig’s middle school class in Spencer, Iowa. Arranged by my good friend Mindy Heiter.
December 13, 2019 - Mrs. Mriden and Mrs. Bunkers 1st grade room at West Central.
November 22, 2019 - Two classes, Mrs. Nielsen’s class and Mrs. Kraayenbrinks class (Hadley Ziegler and Hannah Farris are student teachers) at Harrisburg Horizon Elementary.
October 25, 2019 - Book giveaway for Mrs. Wolff’s Kindergarten class at Baltic Elementary.
September 27, 2019 - Surprise book giveaway for Miss Weihe's Kindergarten class at Garfield Elementary.
September 27, 2019 - We also visited the Principal at Garfield Elementary, Mrs. Skogstad, who was Caitlyn and Alex’s favorite 3rd grade teacher.
September 27, 2019 - We donated over 300 books to Reach Literacy in honor of National Literacy Month with proceeds supporting the local school lunch programs.
April 20, 2019 - Book donation to Reach Literacy in partnership with USD Pi Beta Phi.
March 29, 2019 - Student teacher, Miss Horkey, and her 4th-grade class had special visitors in memory of her close friend, Cat, who was also an elementary education major. Mrs. Olson, Cat’s mom, wanted to share her story and give learners books to take home in memory of her daughter.
