United Way of Southern Kentucky Receives Grant from Target
On September 20, 2013, United Way
of Southern Kentucky announced that its Dolly
Parton Imagination Library program was awarded a $2,000 grant from Target Corporation
(NYSE: TGT). In recognition of the efforts of United Way of Southern
Kentucky in supporting early childhood education, the grant will aid
in the continuing efforts of the program which is designed to send books
monthly to children at their home until the age of 5.
United Way's Early Childhood Education
community impact goal is to ensure that
all children will enter kindergarten ready to succeed. To get books into
the hands of children, United Way
of Southern Kentucky began administering the
Dolly Parton Imagination Library program in late 2011. The Imagination Library
not only increases children's access to books but also promotes parent-child
interaction and helps ensure that children enter kindergarten with a strong
ability to read with an eagerness to learn.
Recognizing
that good reading skills are key to a child's success in school, Target awards
Early Childhood Reading Grants to schools, libraries and nonprofit
organizations that support K-3 reading programs that help inspire kids to love reading
and encourage families to read together.
Steve Wallace, President and CEO
of United Way of Southern Kentucky, says, “National statistics tell us that
children who are not reading at a minimum 3rd grade level by the time they
enter 3rd grade are 75% more likely not to graduate from high school on time.
However, national statistics also tell us that if children are read to at least
3 times per week by a family member they are twice as likely to score in the
top 25 percent in their school's reading assessment testing. Simply put, if you
want children to have the maximum opportunities in school and beyond, enroll
them in United Way's
Imagination Library program at birth and start reading to them on Day 1!”
The
grant is part of Target's ongoing efforts to build strong, safe and healthy
communities across the country. These efforts include Target's long history of
giving 5 percent of its profit to communities, which today equals more than $4
million every week. As part of this commitment, Target is on track to give $1
billion for education by the end of 2015 to help kids learn, schools teach and
parents and caring adults engage.
“At
Target, we are committed to serving local communities where we do business,”
said Laysha Ward, President, Community Relations, Target. “That's why we are
proud to partner with United Way
of Southern Kentucky as we work to strengthen
communities and enrich the lives of our guests and team members.”
In
addition to the grant received by United
Way of Southern Kentucky,
Target also gives through signature programs such as:
• Take Charge of Education, a school
fundraising initiative that provides undesignated funds to local schools for
whatever they need most, from books and school supplies to classroom
technology.
• Arts Accessibility, free or
reduced-price admission to arts and cultural events nationwide.
• Target School
Library Makeovers, a program that leverages Target's world-class design
expertise to transform school libraries across the country with new
construction, furniture, and technology, as well as 2,000 new books.
• Education Grants and Awards,
including Books for Schools Awards, Target Field Trip Grants and Early
Childhood Reading Grants, that provide schools, libraries, teachers and
nonprofit organizations the resources they need to bring learning to life and
put more kids on the path to graduation.
