National Grant Program:  Recent Grantees

The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy announced April 22, 2010 that its prestigious National Grant Program awarded a total of $578,654 to 9 nonprofit organizations, public school districts, and other agencies across the United States to improve the literacy skills of parents and their children. Since its inception in 1989, the Foundation has awarded nearly $34,550,000 million to 785 family literacy programs in 50 states, including the nation’s capital.  

"I truly believe that being able to read, write, and comprehend are the keys to a successful and happy life," said Barbara Bush. "And a literate society is important to keeping our country strong and safe.  Our goal, and what these grants provide for, is to send children reading-ready to their first day of school, and to equip parents with the literacy tools they need for success. There is no greater opportunity for quality time between parent and child than reading together." 

Ranging in size from $50,000 to $65,000 each, the 9 grants will support the development or expansion of family literacy programs in California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, South Dakota and Virginia .  Through a rigorous review process, recipients were selected from over 300 proposals submitted by a wide range of private, nonprofit and public institutions including libraries, correctional facilities, universities, housing projects, and public schools.

The 2010 National Grant Program recipients will be announced at the Barbara Bush Foundation's 16th annual fundraising event, A Celebration of Reading, which will be held on April 22, 2010 at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts in Houston, TX.  The evening, hosted by George and Barbara Bush, will feature best-selling authors AJ Jacobs, Mary Karr, Greg Kincaid and Kathryn Stockett as well as other surprise guests.

In addition to the National Grant Program, the Foundation also has statewide family literacy initiatives in Maine, Texas, Florida, and Maryland. These four initiatives currently are completing their respective grant reviews, and will announce their 2010 grants by June.

The Barbara Bush Foundation’s 2010 National Grants recipients are (in alphabetical order by state): 

Arlington Public Schools

Arlington, VA

$65,000

To support the expansion of the Arlington Even Start Family Literacy Program, in which the Arlington Public Schools partner with the Arlington Public Library to offer computer skills classes, field trips, and special “story times.”  The program also provides adult, early childhood, and parenting education, parent/child literacy activities, and home visits.

Bloomington/Richfield Family Center

Bloomington, MN

$64,464

To support the Family School project, in which the Bloomington and Richfield Public Schools join together in an effort to serve low-income, non-native English-speaking families.  The project enables parents to learn English and offers adult education, children’s education, parent/child “together time,” parenting classes, and health support services.

Center for New Americas

Northampton, MA

$65,000

To support the Partners in Literacy program, a collaboration with the Amherst Regional and Northampton Public Schools to address changing demographics.  Partners in Literacy offers ESOL classes, facilitated discussion groups focused on parenting and schools, early childhood/pre-K programs, interactive literacy activities, and wrap-around services.

Chicago Child Care Society

Chicago, IL

$65,000

To support the family learning program focusing on the Society’s Teen Parenting Initiative, a school-based initiative for teen mothers who are pregnant and/or parenting young children while attending one of seven Chicago public high schools.  The program reaches 40 families and includes literacy kits for home use, adult basic education, and pre-literacy activities for children.

Keweenaw Bay Indian Community

Baraga, MI

$59,230

To support the Even Start “Dream Catcher Chronicles” program, providing learning opportunities through an oral history preservation project.  Program content is integrated with adult education, intergenerational reading activities, and family activities, resulting in cultural connections between Even Start participants and the community through oral history interviews and gatherings.

Little Tokyo Service Center Community Development Corporation

Los Angeles, CA

$65,000

To support the expansion of the family literacy program to include 25 additional families housed at one of the program’s affordable-housing communities. The initiative improves literacy and language skills while providing early childhood education, adult education, parent education, and parent/child literacy activities.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools

Miami, FL

$65,000

To support Project PAFT (Parents as First Teachers) in three Title 1 elementary schools.  The program provides family literacy services to 60 low-income, undereducated and limited English-proficient adults and their children.  Project PAFT offers an integrated program of early childhood education, adult literacy, parenting education, and interactive literacy activities.

Minnesota Literacy Council, Inc.

St. Paul, MN

$65,000

To support the Early Literacy and Families (ELF) program, an expansion of an ongoing effort established in 1972.  ELF seeks to reach an additional 25 families representing the region’s growing number of Karen, Hmong, Hispanic, and African populations.  The program provides preschool activities, parent/child activities, and parent mentoring in the families’ homes along with adult literacy courses.

Volunteers of America, Dakotas

Sioux Falls, SD

$64,960

To support the Si Se Puede (“Yes We Can”) Program, in which Volunteers of America, Dakotas partners with Lutheran Social Services’ Immigrant and Refugee Program and the Presentation Sisters Hispanic Outreach Ministry to identify immigrant families who will benefit from English instruction, early childhood education, and parenting instruction along with workplace literacy skills and intergenerational reading time.  

 


View a complete listing of all of the programs funded through the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy National Grant Program HERE.