As part of an ongoing commitment to early childhood reading with a specific focus on K-3, this fall, Target and The Heart of America Foundation will renovate school libraries through the annual Target School Library Makeovers program. The program includes the unveiling of 32 extreme library makeovers for schools in-need in 30 cities, as well as $500 Book Awards to schools across the country.
$7 Million in Funds Donated
Through this program, Target is donating more than $7 million to school libraries nationwide and providing students with a new outlook on learning. Each makeover features light construction and new furniture, shelves, carpet and technology, as well as 2,000 new books for each school library. In addition, each student and their sibling/s will receive seven new books to take home.
The Target School Library Makeovers program was launched in 2007 and features a combination of extreme school library makeovers, which include a complete renovation, and $500 Book Awards to schools across the country. Since the program’s inception, Target has impacted more than 2,000 school libraries, distributed more than one million new books and donated tens of thousands of volunteer hours.
Target Leader Comments
“Studies show that reading proficiently by the end of third grade is one of the most important academic milestones on the path to graduation,” said Laysha Ward, president of community relations at Target, in a news release by the company. “Through the revitalization of these libraries, Target is putting more books into the hands of more students across the country, helping them reach their full potential and inspiring a lifelong love of reading.”
Target’s commitment to the communities it serves involves funding education programs that nurture a love of learning and promote literacy among children. The Target School Library Makeovers program is one of the many ways Target supports education by acting locally to help kids learn and schools teach.
Heart of America Charity Beneficiary
“Our partnership with Target allows us to elevate the level of our giving and reach thousands of additional students and volunteers across the nation,” said Angie Halamandaris, president and co-founder of The Heart of America Foundation, in the Target news release. “Reading is the key to success. And, to ensure students develop a strong foundation for continued learning, it is essential for every school library to be the heart of the school: inspiring and inviting. With the help of Target, we are able to give that wonderful space to even more schools.”
In support of this effort, Target and The Heart of America Foundation also have teamed up with a number of additional vendor partners nationwide. All partners helped make the project possible through donations and/or discounted pricing of services and supplies.
Schools receiving a library makeover are chosen based on a number of factors, including the students’ reading proficiency, the percentage of students from low-income families and the overall need for library improvement. To learn more about specific schools benefiting from Target School Library Makeovers or to view a time-lapse video of a makeover in action, visit Target.com/libraries.
In addition to awarding complete library makeovers to 32 schools, Target is teaming up with First Book, a national non-profit organization, to provide new books to schools serving in-need students across the country. Each of the more than 1,700 Target stores and distribution centers nationwide will grant a $500 Book Award to a local, in-need school of their choice. The Book Awards will provide each school with new books and reading supplies from First Book, just in time to kick-off the new school year.
Mary McCarthy - Mary T. McCarthy is the blogger at pajamasandcoffee.com and Editor of Chesapeake Family magazine.
