The $10,000 grant provided by the global humanitarian organization, matched with $1000 from the club, will primarily support early learning and literacy development
The Manhattan Rotary Club was recently awarded an Early Childhood Literacy grant from global humanitarian organization Save the Children to support the club’s Rotary Young Learners Partnership. The project benefits six Kansas counties (Clay, Marshall, Pottawatomie, Riley, Washington, Wabaunsee) and includes support to (1) Konza United Way in establishing the Dolly Parton Imagination Library; (2) public library reading programs, led by the North Central Kansas Libraries System (NCKLS); and (3) a used-book gift-certificate program modeled on the recently-established Rotary-USD383 credit at the Dusty Bookshelf book store in Aggieville.
The Manhattan Rotary Club (MRC) was one of a handful of U.S. Rotary Clubs selected by Save the Children to support innovative approaches to early childhood literacy. The grants will provide these clubs with up to $10,000 to help fund community-wide initiatives that support Kindergarten readiness and early childhood literacy. MRC is providing a match of $1000 from its endowed fund at the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation. Shortly after the grant was announced, the club also received a gift of more than 7000 new books, valued at $125,000, from the Eisenhower Center in Abilene, Kansas. These books, for all ages from the very young to adults, were originally intended for an Eisenhower Center literacy program that was dropped because of the pandemic.The MRC grant builds upon initiatives in early childhood education and literacy by several partner organizations: Rotary, Konza United Way, NCKLS and its member public libraries, public school educators, Kansas Cooperative Extension, community foundations affiliated with the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation, and the Kansas Institute for Early Childhood Education and Research at Kansas State University.
Nationally, this community engagement program is a part of Together We READ, a partnership between BELRAG (Basic Education and Literacy Rotary Action Group) and Save the Children that began in 2018.
“Basic Education and Literacy Month takes on even greater importance for Rotarians and Rotaractors this year, as we come to see the profound impact of the pandemic on education and literacy. Despite gains made in the last two decades to improve literacy, school closings during the COVID-19 pandemic threaten to reverse positive trends made toward greater school participation,” said Carolyn Johnson, Chair of the Basic Education and Literacy Rotary Action Group. “Thanks to our partnership with Save the Children, clubs in rural communities across the country have the opportunity to address these challenges and provide high-quality early education programs to their communities.”
The Together We READ partnership unites Save the Children’s expertise in child literacy programs, data collection and outcome measurement with Rotary’s expertise in advocacy, connecting community leaders, developing and implementing projects and driving public awareness and fundraising efforts – all with the aim of measurably increasing education outcomes for young children living in poverty.
“Save the Children is grateful to our partners at BELRAG and to all of the Rotary Clubs who participated in the grant program,” said Lesley Graham, Senior Director of Community Impact at Save the Children. “We are looking forward to supporting all of these innovative projects and seeing them up and running to help young learners grow and develop across rural America.”
Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders and problem solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change - across the globe, in our communities and in ourselves. We provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through our fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders. From literacy and peace to water and health, we are always working to better our world, and we stay committed to the end.
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