Women & Philanthropy and the Judith Herb College of Education at The University of Toledo are donating approximately 1,000 books to Toledo Public Schools.

The books will be distributed to 33 second-grade classrooms at 19 TPS schools.

“Second grade is a critical year for learning to read,” said Dr. Thea Sawicki, chair of the Holiday Project for Women & Philanthropy and professor in the UT Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology. “Choosing one grade to focus on allows us to support more schools.”

As part of its 2017 Holiday Project titled “Encouraging Early Literacy,” Women & Philanthropy partnered with the UT Judith Herb College of Education to raise funds to provide scholastic books for elementary classrooms in TPS schools. Women & Philanthropy will continue to raise funds throughout 2018 with the goal of donating books to all second-grade classrooms in each of the 40 TPS schools this year.

“Our faculty is deeply committed to working collaboratively with our school partners to improve early literacy,” said Dr. Virginia Keil, interim dean of the UT Judith Herb College of Education. “Our partnership with Woman & Philanthropy has allowed the college to work with TPS leaders to place high-interest books in second-grade classrooms. We hope that making books readily accessible to students will encourage reading and ultimately help to improve academic achievement.”

“We are incredibly grateful that the UT Judith Herb College of Education and Women & Philanthropy have chosen to support classrooms throughout TPS schools, including Old Orchard, which is right in the neighborhood of the University,” Durant said. “As a College of Education graduate, I’m especially proud of this partnership to serve our students.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixpKjGWOmXQ&feature=youtu.be

http://www.toledoblade.com/Education/2018/03/15/Philanthropy-group-donates-over-1-000-books-to-TPS-students.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJeHZuXWKXI&feature=youtu.be