Students to Receive Books to Promote Summer Reading Initiative
Columbus, OH (May 15, 2015)—The Columbus Foundation and Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML) today announced a Gifts of Kindness™ grant to benefit 10,000 kindergarten and first grade students at all 72 Columbus City elementary schools.
Gifts of Kindness™, a community-focused fund launched at The Columbus Foundation, identified a unique opportunity to spread kindness by supporting Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Summer Reading Club, one of the largest summer reading programs in the country. The annual library program – this year themed “Be a Hero, Read” – encourages kids to keep reading over the summer in an attempt to stem summer reading loss and ensure that kids are prepared for the next school year. The gift announced today will equip each kindergarten and first grade student of Columbus City Schools with a book and a sign-up sheet for CML’s Summer Reading Club.
“The goal is to give each student the tools needed to be successful in school, and it often begins with reading,” said Lisa S. Courtice, executive vice president for Community Research and Grants Management at The Columbus Foundation. “Gifts of Kindness promotes sharing kindness throughout the community, and will ultimately help students by encouraging them to practice reading throughout the summer.”
Douglas F. Kridler, president and CEO of The Columbus Foundation, and Pat Losinski, CEO of CML, presented Dr. Dan Good, superintendent of Columbus City Schools, with this major impact gift at the Martin Luther King Branch of Columbus Metropolitan Library. Alex Radelich, executive director of the Acts of Random of Kindness Project, spoke to the 40 students from Eastgate Elementary School in attendance about the importance of showing kindness to others. The students also engaged in an act of kindness by writing messages to include in books throughout the library, so that the next child who checks out the book receives a positive message or word of encouragement.
About Gifts of Kindness
Established in September 2014 with an initial gift of $500,000 from a generous, anonymous donor, Gifts of Kindness inspires the central Ohio community to give kindness in any way that one is able, through kind acts to others, volunteering, or financial support. The fund primarily focuses on providing one-time grants to assist individuals who have experienced an unforeseen setback, and need an immediate financial boost to help them continue on a path to independence and sustainability—among other opportunities for sharing kindness.
About The Columbus Foundation
The Columbus Foundation is the trusted philanthropic advisor® to more than 2,000 individuals, families, businesses, and communities that have created unique funds to make a difference in the lives of others through the most effective philanthropy possible. Serving the region for more than 70 years, The Columbus Foundation is the seventh largest community foundation in the United States. The Foundation’s online giving marketplace, PowerPhilanthropy,® makes it possible for everyone to access valuable information about nonprofit organizations in central Ohio.
About Columbus Metropolitan Library
Columbus Metropolitan Library has served the people of Franklin County, Ohio for 142 years. With its Main Library and 21 branches, CML is well known for signature services and programs like Homework Help Centers, Reading Buddies, Summer Reading Club and the Ready to Read Corps. The library’s Strategic Plan supports the vision of “a thriving community where wisdom prevails,” which positions CML to respond to areas of urgent need: kids unprepared for kindergarten, third grade reading proficiency, high school graduation, college readiness and employment resources. Visit columbuslibrary.org to learn more.
About Acts of Random Kindness Project
Acts of Random Kindness Project’s mission is to inspire an epidemic of kindness in our society. In order to work towards accomplishing this goal, ARK wants to get 6,000 pledges of kindness as part of our “Just Do One” campaign. The “Just Do One” campaign was launched as a way for people to commit to performing an Act of Random Kindness, either daily, weekly, or monthly. Since one Act of Random Kindness has the potential to change the world, just imagine what 6,000 could do. Visit arkprojectnow.com to learn more.