My Very Own Library, Scholastic Book Fairs and United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County team-up to support literacy effort at 10 MPS schools
From left to right: Nicole Angresano, United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County, Stephanie Davern, Scholastic Book Fairs, Trila Pitchford Assistant Principal in Charge Kluge Elementary
On December 9, Kluge Elementary School kicked off My Very Own Library (MVOL), a literacy initiative dedicated to putting books into the hands of children in need.
More than 3,400 MPS students will get free books to start their own home libraries and build their reading skills thanks to My Very Own Library (MVOL).
The program will distribute 34,200 books to students in 10 MPS schools.
The schools selected to take part in the program include: Kluge; Auer Avenue School; Brown Street Academy; Hopkins Lloyd Community School; Jackson Early Childhood and Elementary School; Kagel School; Lancaster School; James Whitcomb Riley School; Townsend Street School; and Clement J. Zablocki School.
Milwaukee is one of six communities selected to take part in the MVOL program, which is supported by the Feeley Family Foundation, Scholastic Book Fairs, Milwaukee Public Schools and the United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County.
United Way and MPS have partnered to match the $250,000 grant award, dollar for dollar.
Participating students in the chosen schools will have the opportunity to select ten new children’s books over the course of three book fairs to create their own home library.
“My Very Own Library is an incredible gift for our students and families,” said MPS Superintendent Darienne Driver, “We are grateful to Scholastic Book Fairs and our good friends at United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County for providing the support needed to help our young people grow a lifelong love of reading which improves their opportunities for success.”
“Books matter. United Way is proud to be a partner in this great initiative to get books into the hands of children who need them the most.” said Nicole Angresano, vice president of community impact at United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County.
“United Way is committed to promoting year-round literacy through its Readers United initiative.”
“At Scholastic, we know how critically important it is for all children to be able to choose the books they want to read and to have access to a broad selection of the very best children’s books in order to encourage more independent reading,” said Alan Boyko, President of Scholastic Book Fairs.
“By working with literacy programs like My Very Own Library and organizations like United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County, Scholastic is able to ensure that more children are given the chance to become book owners, build their own home libraries and discover the power and joy of reading.”
To learn more about the MVOL library project, visit their website: www.myveryownlibrary.org.