Local organizations receive books from SMIF grant
Three local organizations have received children’s books from the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation’s (SMIF) Early Literacy Grant Program. SMIF recently awarded 22,350 children’s books to 53 organizations. This grant supports early literacy efforts that enhance school readiness for children birth to age eight by providing children with books.
Among the recipients were the Byron Public Schools, Dodge County Public Health, and Kasson-Mantorville Community Education.
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 230,000 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:
Albert Lea Area Schools
Alden-Conger Preschool
Allina Health in Northfield
Brown County Public Health
Byron Public Schools
Children’s Museum of Rochester Inc
Christmas in the City in Adams
Community Health Service Inc in Rochester
Dodge County Public Health
Elysian Area Library
Faribault Public Schools
Fillmore Central Community Education
Friends of the Houston Minnesota Public Library
Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop ECFE/School Readiness
Good Shepherd Preschool in Owatonna
Human Services of Faribault and Martin Counties
Lewiston-Altura Schools
Kasson-Mantorville Community Education
Kenyon-Wanamingo Early Education
Kingsland Public Schools in Spring Valley
Le Sueur-Henderson Public School and ECFE
Leo Augusta Children’s Academy in Blooming Prairie
Mayo Clinic Health System-Faribault
Minnesota Child Care Provider Information Network in Welcome
Minnesota Valley Action Council in Mankato
Muir Library in Winnebago
New Prague Area Community Education
New Ulm Schools
Next Chapter Inc. in Austin
Northfield Public Schools Community Education in Northfield
New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Public Schools — Community Education
Parenting Resource Center in Austin
Pine Island Schools
Ridgeview Foundation
River Bend Education District in New Ulm
Riverside Central Elementary in Rochester
Rochester Public Schools
Sleepy Eye ECFE
Spring Grove School ECFE
St. Charles Early Learning Programs
Stewartville Early Childhood
Tri-City United School Early Learning in Montgomery
Three Rivers Community Action Inc in Zumbrota
United Way of Goodhue Wabasha and Pierce Counties
United Way of Steele County
Village Agricultural Cooperative in Rochester
Wabasha County Social Services
Winona ECFE
Waseca County Public Health
Waterville Public Library
Watonwan County Public Health
Wee Pals Child Care Center in Owatonna
Wells Public Library
“At SMIF, we know that providing families with books for young children can be a powerful way to lay the groundwork for literacy,” 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.
Submitted Photo Early Literacy Grant recipient Jennifer Dole from the Byron Public Schools is pictured with SMIF staff members Heidi Coulter, left, and Margaret Radel, right.