FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joan Whitson, Early Learning Coalition of Putnam and St. Johns Counties, 904-819-3544
Target Media Hotline, (612) 696-3400
Early Learning Coalition of Putnam and St. Johns Counties Receives Grants for Book Bag Project
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., November 3, 2012 – The Early Learning Coalition of Putnam and St. Johns Counties (ELC) announces that its book bag project program has been awarded grants from Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) and TD Bank, among others. In recognition of the efforts of ELC in promoting early literacy, the grant helps fund book bags for three-year-olds.
“Last year, we were able to donate 600 book bags filled with books appropriately aged for three-year-olds. Due to the help of our sponsorships, we plan to increase the amount of book bags to a total of 800,” said ELC Coordinator Joan Whitson.
This years grants were also a community effort with donations from St. Augustine Sunrise Rotary Club, Palatka Sunrise Rotary Club, St. Augustine Kiwanis Club, RSVP of St. Johns County and Dr. Bert Tavery, DDS.
The grant is part of Target’s ongoing efforts to build strong, safe and healthy communities across the country. These efforts include Target’s long history of giving 5 percent of its income to communities, which today equals more than $3 million every week. As part of this commitment, Target is on track to give $1 billion for education by the end of 2015 to help kids learn, schools teach and parents and caring adults engage.
“At Target, we are committed to serving local communities where we do business,” said Laysha Ward, President, Community Relations, Target. “That’s why we are proud to partner with ELC as we work to strengthen communities and enrich the lives of our guests and team members.”
In addition to the grant received by ELC, Target also gives through signature programs such as:
- Take Charge of Education, a school fundraising initiative that provides undesignated funds to local schools for whatever they need most, from books and school supplies to classroom technology.
- Arts Accessibility, free or reduced-price admission to arts and cultural events nationwide.
- Target School Library Makeovers, a program that leverages Target’s world-class design expertise to transform school libraries across the country with new construction, furniture, and technology, as well as 2,000 new books.
- Education Grants and Awards, including Books for Schools Awards, Target Field Trip Grants and Early Childhood Reading Grants, that provide schools, libraries, teachers and nonprofit organizations the resources they need to bring learning to life and put more kids on the path to graduation.
About Early Learning Coalition of Putnam and St. Johns Counties
We at the Early Learning Coalition coordinate services that allow children to enter kindergarten healthy and ready to learn.
Our mission is to serve parents, caregivers and educators of children ages birth to pre-kindergarten by managing and evaluating early child care and early childhood education programs through a quality school readiness delivery system in Putnam & St. Johns Counties. To learn more about the ELC, visit www.elcpsj.org.
About Target
Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) serves guests at more than 1,763 stores across the United States and at Target.com. The company plans to open its first stores in Canada in 2013. In addition, the company operates a credit card segment that offers branded proprietary credit card products. Since 1946, Target has given 5 percent of its income through community grants and programs; today, that giving equals more than $3 million a week. For more information about Target’s commitment to corporate responsibility, visit Target.com/hereforgood.
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