SMIF donates books to local schools
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) recently awarded 21,020 children’s books to 46 organizations through its Early Literacy Grant Program including several in the local area. This grant supports early literacy efforts that enhance school readiness for children birth to age eight by providing children with books.
Local school districts receiving books were the Byron Public Schools, Kasson-Mantorville Community Education, Triton ECFE, and the Zumbro Education District.
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 eight. SMIF has previously partnered with both companies on collectively distributing more than 100,000 books across the region through grants and programming.
The following organizations were awarded Early Literacy Grants because they provide outstanding early literacy opportunities for young children and their families:
Blooming Prairie Elementary School
Brown County Public Health
Byron Public School
Children’s Museum of Rochester, Inc
Children’s Museum of Southern MN in Mankato
Christmas in the Cities of Adams and Taopi
Circle of Parents in Albert Lea
City of Good Thunder
Faribault Public Schools
Fillmore Central Community Education
Fillmore County Public Health
Freeborn County Public Health
Friends of the Houston MN Public Library
Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop Early Childhood
Good Shepherd Preschool in Owatonna
Human Services of Faribault and Martin Counties
Kasson-Mantorville Community Education
Kingsland Public Schools in Spring Valley
Kiwanis Clubs of Southern Minnesota
Lanesboro Public Library
Le Sueur-Henderson Public School and ECFE
Leo Augusta Children’s Academy in Blooming Prairie
Little Lakers Early Learning Center in Lake Crystal
Madelia Early Childhood Family Education
Minnesota Valley Action Council Head Start in Mankato
Muir Library in Winnebago
New Prague Area Schools & Community Education
New Ulm ECFE
Northfield Public Schools
NRHEG Public Schools in New Richland
Rochester YMCA
SEMCAC- Head start in Rushford
Sleepy Eye Early Childhood Family Education
Southern Minnesota Education Consortium in Grand Meadow
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in North Mankato
Star Light Early Learning Center in Blue Earth
Stewartville Community Education
Tri-City United Early Learning Center in Montgomery
Three Rivers Community Action Incorporated in Northfield
Triton ECFE in Dodge Center
Tri-Valley Opportunity Council Elgin
United Way of Steele County
Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Public Schools
Watonwan County Public Health
Wells Public Library
Zumbro Education District
“Getting books into the hands of young children powers 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 were provided with 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.