Immaculate Heart of Mary Wins Grant for Summer Reading Program

received a $2,000 grant from Target that will help the school expand the summer reading program.

“We are very excited about the fact that students and parents get to read, have fun and learn at the same time, said Jennifer Sedlack, the school's development director and primary grant writer, in a statement. "The grant allows our librarian to purchase more level-specific reading books, to include a 30-minute story time each day and award students participation with books, movies and snacks.”

The school's summer reading program has been in place since 2001, and the Target grant will support the June-July 2012 program. It is unique among Atlanta schools. More than 200 students and community members have the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of this program, which will begin June 1 and run through July.  

This is the first time the school has applied for and received a grant from Target’s Early Childhood Reading grant program. Since 1946, Target has given five percent of its income to communities. Today, that giving equals more than $3 million every week.

“The additional funding will help us to motivate and increase readership, using storytellers especially for grades [kindergarten through three]. We have designed a great program for next year, inspired by the book and popular film A Night at the Museum," said Sandy Wilson, the school’s librarian. "For every three hours that a student reads, they will tour one of the ten areas of the library, which was planned according to the characters and exhibits seen in the film."