White Awards Penny Severns Summer Family Literacy Grants
SPRINGFIELD — Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White has awarded 54 grants totaling $250,000 that will allow Illinois families to participate in this summer's Penny Severns Summer Family Literacy Program.
"The Penny Severns Summer Family Literacy Program, now in its seventh year, provides positive, interactive reading and learning activities for parents and children during times when other reading programs may not be available to families," said White. "Last year more than 2,100 parents and nearly 3,900 children took part in the program. Families working to enhance their literacy skills need access to quality educational programs year round, and this program fulfills that need while strengthening the bond between parents and children."
The grants are named in honor of the late State Senator Penny Severns (D-Decatur). The program provides classes to improve the basic reading, math, writing or language skills of both parents and children during the summer. Services include instruction and interactive, reciprocal learning experiences that parents and children participate in together. Grants are awarded to educational agencies such as libraries, community colleges, community-based organizations, school districts, and volunteer literacy organizations.
"Illinois' outstanding network of community-based literacy programs are making a profound difference in the lives of citizens who want to achieve their utmost potential in life by improving their reading, writing, math or language skills," White said. "I am extremely grateful to the men and women, especially our volunteer tutors, who take time to work with literacy students.
"I was proud to call Penny Severns my friend. She truly believed that serving the public was a noble profession, and that government could make a difference in the lives of citizens. Her tireless commitment to making life better for others is reflected in the program that bears her name."
FY05 PENNY SEVERNS GRANT RECIPIENTS
| Arlington Heights | Township High School District 214 | $4,800.00 |
| Aurora | Aurora Public Library | $4,800.00 |
| Belleville | Regional Office of Education - St. Clair County | $4,800.00 |
| Benld | Frank Bertetti Benld Public Library | $3,700.00 |
| Benton | Benton Public Library District | $4,800.00 |
| Berwyn | Berwyn Public Library | $4,800.00 |
| Biggsville | Henderson County Even Start | $4,800.00 |
| Bushnell | Carl Sandburg College | $2,983.00 |
| Canton | Spoon River College | $4,800.00 |
| Carbondale | SIU - Evaluation & Developmental Center | $4,426.00 |
| Carterville | John A. Logan College | $4,800.00 |
| Centralia | Centralia Regional Library District | $4,680.00 |
| Centralia | Kaskaskia College | $4,685.00 |
| Centreville | Centreville Public Library | $4,800.00 |
| Champaign | Urban League of Champaign County | $4,800.00 |
| Chester | Chester Public Library | $4,266.00 |
| Chicago | Albany Park Community Center | $4,800.00 |
| Chicago | Allison United Foundation For Better Living | $4,800.00 |
| Chicago | Asian Human Services, Inc. | $4,784.00 |
| Chicago | Blue Gargoyle Youth Service Center | $4,800.00 |
| Chicago | Centro Comunitario Juan Diego | $4,800.00 |
| Chicago | Centro Romero | $4,800.00 |
| Chicago | Chinese Mutual Aid Association | $4,800.00 |
| Chicago | Hull House Uptown Head Start | $4,800.00 |
| Chicago | Illinois Migrant Council | $4,800.00 |
| Chicago | Instituto del Progreso Latino | $4,800.00 |
| Chicago | Midwest Asian American Center | $4,768.00 |
| Chicago | Pui Tak Center | $4,400.00 |
| Chicago | Sullivan House | $4,798.00 |
| Chicago | Sunlight African Community Center | $4,800.00 |
| Chicago | Urhai Community Service Center | $4,600.00 |
| Chicago | Vietnamese Association of Illinois | $4,800.00 |
| Collinsville | Collinsville Memorial Public Library | $4,800.00 |
| Decatur | Richland Community College | $4,800.00 |
| DuQuoin | DuQuoin Public Library | $4,800.00 |
| Godfrey | Lewis & Clark Community College | $4,798.00 |
| Joliet | Joliet Public Library | $4,800.00 |
| Macomb | McDonough County Even Start | $4,686.00 |
| Madison | Madison Community Unit School District #12 | $4,800.00 |
| Moline | Moline Even Start Family Literacy | $4,800.00 |
| Monmouth | Warren County Even Start | $4,800.00 |
| Mount Vernon | ROE - Hamilton/Jefferson Counties | $4,800.00 |
| Normal | ROE - DeWitt/Livingston/McLean | $4,800.00 |
| Peoria | Peoria Public Library - Lakeview Branch | $4,800.00 |
| Peoria | Peoria Public Library - Lincoln Branch | $1,895.00 |
| Robbins | William Leonard Public Library District | $4,800.00 |
| Robinson | Robinson Public Library District | $4,534.00 |
| Springfield | Lawrence Education Center | $4,800.00 |
| Springfield | Lincoln Land Community College | $4,800.00 |
| Urbana | Urbana Schools Adult Education | $4,350.00 |
| Virden | Virden Parent Place | $4,800.00 |
| Waukegan | Waukegan Public Library | $3,612.00 |
| West Frankfort | West Frankfort Public Library | $4,800.00 |
| Wheaton | World Relief Refugee Services, DuPage | $4,800.00 |
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