Barbara Saltzman is executive director of the non-profit . The charity is based on the book, 鈥淭he Jester Has Lost His Jingle,鈥� by her son David Saltzman. The organization works to benefit ill and special-needs children and literacy. To date, 325,000 copies of the book are in circulation with 155,000 dolls and books given to ill children and schools.
Saltzman edited the Los Angeles Times Daily Calendar entertainment pages before becoming the publisher of her son鈥檚 book. Now, she speaks to parents, schoolchildren, hospital patients, residents of shelters and other children and families about 鈥淭he Jester鈥� and her son.
The Phund鈥檚 literacy programs include Jester read-a-thons in which children read to give 鈥淭he Jester鈥� book and doll to ill and low-income children in their community. To date, children have read more than 28 million pages to give copies of David鈥檚 book and doll to others.