Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) recently awarded 23,622 children’s books valued at $420,472 to 47 organizations through its Early Literacy Grant Program. This grant supports early literacy efforts that enhance school readiness for children birth to age five by providing children with books.
The books were awarded in partnership with Capstone and ABDO, Mankato-based publishers of children’s books and digital products and services. In 2002, Capstone helped launch the BookStart program, working with SMIF to distribute thousands of books to children in the region over a period of 15 years. In 2018, the Early Literacy Grant was formed as a new collaborative effort between SMIF and the two publishers to put even more books into the hands of children birth to age five. SMIF has previously partnered with both companies on collectively distributing more than 100,000 books across the region through grants and programming.
“ABDO is proud to support early literacy through this program,” said DeMar Borth, Chief Operating Officer of ABDO. “We are honored to help get books into the hands of many young children across the region.”
“Capstone is honored to support literacy efforts in the region by providing books for the Early Literacy Grants,” said Gail Beer, Capstone VP Customer Relations. “We congratulate all of this year’s grant recipients and thank them for their important work helping children in our region. Through our continued partnership with Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, we are able to help communities succeed together.”
The following organizations were awarded Early Literacy Grants because they provide outstanding early literacy opportunities for young children and their families:
Local Organizations
•Beary Patch Preschool,
Spring Grove
•Chatfield Public Schools
•Fillmore Central Commu-
nity Education, Preston
•Fillmore County Public
Health Department
•Kingsland Public Schools
•Leroy-Ostrander Public
Schools Community Edu-
cation
•Rushford-Peterson Schools
•Spring Grove Public
Schools
Other Area Organizations
Albert Lea Area Schools;
Byron Public Schools; Christmas in the City events, Taopi and Adams; Elysian Area Library; Fairmont Area Schools; Faribault Public Schools; Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop Schools; Human Services of Faribault and Martin Counties; Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton Public Schools; Kenyon-Wanamingo Schools Community Education; Kiwanis Clubs of Southern Minnesota; Le Sueur-Henderson Public Schools; Madelia Public Schools; Medford Public Schools; Minn. Valley Action Council, Mankato; Most Holy Redeemer Catholic School, Montgomery; New Prague Area Early Childhood Initiative; New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Public Schools; New Ulm Public Schools; Northfield Public Schools; Red Wing Public Schools; Rochester Public Schools; Rochester YMCA; Saint Charles Public Schools; Saint Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, North Mankato; Sibley County Daycare Association; Sleepy Eye Public Schools; Stewartville Public Library; Stewartville Public Schools; The Children’s Museum of Rochester; Three Rivers Community Action Incorporated, Zumbrota
Tri-City United Early Childhood Initiative; Triton Early Childhood Special Education; Triton Public Schools; Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Elgin; Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Public Schools; Wellcome Manor Family Services, Garden City; Wells Public Library; Youth First, Fairmont
“Getting books into the hands of young children has tremendous power in fueling their development – with language, reading and so much more,” said Rae Jean Hansen, Vice President of Early Childhood at SMIF. “Our long-term partnerships with both Capstone and ABDO are critical to our efforts to provide parents and children with support they need to prepare for school.”
Award recipients will be provided a selection of titles donated by the publishing companies, including bilingual- and early childhood-appropriate books. The organizations will incorporate the books into their programs and events where young children will receive books to take home and keep.
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