WHITEWATER- September 12, 2023- Whitewater Leads is excited to announce that they are expanding their ability to improve literacy for children within the Whitewater area.
Over the past six years, through their partnership with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, Whitewater Leads has given away over 24,000 free books to children from birth until their fifth birthday within the Whitewater area.
Through the increase of donations, Whitewater Leads was able to expand to give four elementary literacy grants last school year. The recipients of the Whitewater Leads elementary literacy grants for the 2022 – 2023 school year were Shannon Frye – kindergarten teacher at Lincoln Elementary, Lisa Kaminski – reading interventionist at Lincoln Elementary, Jill Whitney – fifth grade teacher at Washington Elementary, and Jacquie Sedmak – fourth grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary. Shannon Frye stated, “The Whitewater Leads Grant allowed me to purchase Boogie Boards to be used in the classroom. The Boogie Boards allow students to write, draw, and trace on an easy to use and clean device. These boards are a welcome addition to our classroom to practice literacy skills and more. Boogie Boards are a liquid crystal paper and allow students to write without the need for paper or messy ink (like dry erase boards). They erase completely at the click of a button. My classroom is grateful for the purchase of these boards to enhance our literacy program.” More information about each grant winner from the 2022 – 2023 school year is available on the Whitewater Leads website, whitewater-leads.org.
This school year, Whitewater Leads plans to give away up to six literacy grants to Whitewater Unified School District staff. These grants will give WUSD students additional literacy opportunities.
Molly Fuller, Whitewater Leads co-president stated, “ We are extremely excited to be able to expand our ability to help kids in our community. Being able to raise enough money to give away over 24,000 free books is an absolute honor. Now, to be able to give away literacy grants to help our elementary aged students is a dream come true.”
To apply for a literacy grant worth up to $500, WUSD staff can submit their grant proposal to whitewaterleads@gmail.com. If you have a child/children who are not yet five, live in the Whitewater Unified School District area, and would like to receive free monthly books, you can sign them up at imaginationlibrary.com today.
Whitewater Leads, Inc. works to support literacy, in all of its diverse forms, throughout and within the boundaries of the Whitewater Unified School District of Whitewater WI.
