Grant History

Glocal Community Partners, Inc.

Boise, Idaho

$5,000.00

Glocal will work with Taft Elementary School to engage 2nd and 3rd graders and their families that have come as refugees in 4 nights of family fun and learning with STEM activities and conversation with other local volunteer young adults and families.  Taft is a Title 1 school and approximately 40% of families who have come as refugees.  They will benefit from additional English conversations, cross cultural learning and seeing that STEM is exciting and possible.  Funds will be used to purchase MergeEDU cubes, licensing and training, along with snacks and administration.

Incline Education Fund

Incline Village, Nevada

$5,000.00

Funds will be used for Bear to Read, an interdisciplinary program that supports early elementary students and introduces them to the Incline K12 STEAM Pathway.   Bear to Read introduces under-resourced and struggling K2 students, integrating the local environment (mountains and forests of Lake Tahoe) as a central theme across subject areas.  Targeted small group tutoring support occurs 3 times per week.  Weekly science and art projects are also included.  BMSF funds will be used for book purchases, reading specialist support and a portion of art lesson funding.

Julian Union High School

Julian, California

$5,000.00

Julian Union High School will expand its current robotic class so they can work on more complex robot builds and learn more complicated programming.   Funds will be used for additional work benches, expansion hubs, mecanum wheels and a 3D printer.  Some Junior High students join the class at the High School after school.  A robotics competition format is also available to students in this town of approximately 1,400.

Learning Lab, Inc.

Garden City, Idaho

$4,500.00

Learning Lab’s Family Literacy Summer Program provides targeted literacy education for parents and children ages 0-12 with the goal of increasing literacy levels for the whole family.  Families will enroll in a two-week class, attending four days a week.  Back-to-back classes allow students to build on previous knowledge rapidly.   Each two-week program will revolve around a specific theme, and books and vocabulary will be aligned with a chosen theme.  BMSF will support the cost of one, two-week class session.  15-20 adults and their children aged 0-12 will participate in each session. 

National Outdoor Learning Alliance

Boise, Idaho

$4,879.00

Funds will be used to purchase a book rack for use in the residential hotel where refugee families are living, and books will be stocked 4 times throughout the project.  Books will focus on STEM themes for children aged 6-14.  National Outdoor Learning Alliance will also sponsor 14 one-day outdoor STEM camps throughout the year in conjunction with school district holiday breaks.  An estimated 130 youth will participate over the term.

North County Community Services/Growing Minds

San Marcos, California

$5,000.00

A quarterly evening Reading Hour for parents and children will be held at five sites, and bookshelves will be stocked with books they can use and then take home, along with a supportive “reflection page”.  The library would be available at other times.  The program supports income ineligible families – the working poor in their communities.  400 families are involved in the Centers, but the number who will participate in the Reading Hours is not known.

Richland Elementary School

San Marcos, California

$3,200.00

Richland Elementary School will use funds to purchase ten LEGO Education Spike Essential Sets for use in their STEAM program.  It will allow students to work on projects in groups of 2-3 at each grade level from TK-5.  The STEAM program is 100% funded by the PTA organization, and all students (approx. 900) in this diverse school attend STEAM class every other week.

San Elijo Middle School

San Marcos, California

$2,000.00

Funds will be used to purchase math board games for a program called “Math Nest” in the school library.  “Math Nest” is a before school program for students who are currently below grade level in math.  Teachers and students both participate in the before school program, and games are also available for classroom use throughout the day.

Sierra Nevada Journeys

Reno, Nevada

$2,787.00

Approximately 450 children (100-200 at each event) and their families will be served through three Family STEM Nights.  Funds will pay for site and personnel coordination, program delivery, management time, transportation of teachers and supplies.  The program involves parents in their child’s education, uses STEM as a vehicle for exploration and helps forge a sense of trust between and school and families.

Spencer Valley School District Preschool

Santa Ysabel, California

$1,500.00

The Spencer Valley Preschool will provide a broad variety of literature to children to enhance their education.  Preschool funding is very limited, and this budget will help to fill the library with books from a variety of genres including animals, insects, special needs, family, community helpers, space and culture along with equipment for audio books, audio books and braille books.

Tahoe Children’s Foundation

Incline Village, Nevada

$2,469.39

Funds will support a multilingual literacy program to support a diverse community of infants and preschoolers and their families.  Circle time programming will be expanded, the library will be enriched and bilingual experiences will be provided.   The budget will cover materials and program preparation for a 20-week program on weekdays, with up to 100 individuals being impacted weekly.

Tahoe Institute for Natural Science

Incline Village, Nevada

$5,000.00

TINS (in partnership with Incline Education Fund) will provide 17 nature outings to Incline Middle School as part of their Exploratory Wednesday program.  The goal will be to improve environmental literacy and funds will address most aspects of the total program.  Each program will include an educational component (taxonomic groups, e.g.) and an outdoor exploration walking distance from the school or accessed by bus.  A goal is to contribute to nature, social interaction and place connection.

Washoe County School District/Sky Ranch Middle School

Sparks, Nevada

$4,440.00

Sky Ranch Middle School will invest in hands-on engagement, fostering innovation and critical thinking among students using iPads in their 6-week STEM Coding and Robotics Project.  Funds will buy iPads to assure equitable access to essential educational tools and be integrated with other technology in numerous experiments in fall and spring programs serving around 300 students.

Education Foundation of Eagle Valley
Edwards
$2,500.00
This program empowers educators to deliver successful reading and writing outcomes for every student, no matter their social or economic status. Funds will purchase the RAZ-KIDS digital library licenses for one year to promote equity in reading and writing.
English in Action
El Jabel
$3,000.00
Matching individuals with volunteer tutors will assist adult immigrants learning English. Funds will support the Small Groups Tutoring Program and be used for books and computer needs during 2022. This program is expected to serve approximately 120 adult learners.
Garfield County
Raising a Reader Aspen to Parachute
Glenwood Springs
$3,000.00
The Super Summer Learning Adventures Camp, including follow-up outreach, reinforces early learning skills through meaningful experiences with trained educators. Funds will be used for a two-week summer camp and four-week outreach program for 15 families that include anywhere from 1-4 children. Feedback from previous camps indicated that the follow-up outreach was important to success of the program.
Grand County
Friends of Grand County Library
Granby
$3,000.00
The Summer Reading/Learning Program of the Grand County Library District will focus on water – water conservation and the importance of Grand County as a source of water in particular. Funds will be used to promote participation in the program and enhance awareness of library resources. The program will include enrichment events with guest presenters. Over 800 attendees were served by a similar program last year.
Grand County Historical Association
Hot Sulphur Springs
$857.00
This project will help young readers learn about the contributions of women in building the state of Colorado and local communities. Readers will learn about indigenous, pioneer and female leaders in many areas. Funds will be used to support the publication of a Kindle/eBook in partnership with local libraries and schools.
Pitkin County
CWS College Outreach
Aspen
$3,000.00
This Middle School Outreach Program will encourage students to consider STEAM educational and career opportunities. Funds will be used to support an outreach coordinator to meet with students monthly throughout the school year, for buses for field trips to explore STEAM opportunities and for guest speaker expenses. Outreach will extend to approximately 3,500 students in Eagle, Garfield and Pitkin counties.
Anderson Ranch Arts Center
Snowmass
$2,900.00
Collaboration with YouthZone will increase art access for teens of all backgrounds. Funds will be used for a four-week visual storytelling workshop for at-risk 8th-12th grade students. This program blends photography, sound and video with storytelling. Funds will be used for equipment.
Routt County
Horizons Specialized Services
Steamboat Springs
$2,800.00
The “literacy through language and movement” program will coach parents and use play to more effectively teach the building blocks of literacy. Funds will be used for items that encourage movement – devices, apps, board books and supplies. This organization continues to provide services to families in Routt, Grand and Moffat counties.
Integrated Community
Steamboat Springs
$3,000.00
Funds will support the “Our Study Friends” tutoring program. The program will expand to the South Routt/Oak Creek School District by training 50 volunteers to address the needs of 50 students as well as fulfilling some material needs.
Summit County
Education Foundation of the Summit
Breckenridge
$3,000.00
Funds will purchase 2 low cost books each month during the school year for over 150 children in the Dillon Valley and Silverthorne schools. Principals select students for the program and teachers help students select books each month. The number of books in a child’s home is directly correlated to their literacy success both in the short term and the long term as they develop into lifelong readers.
Mountain Top Children’s Museum
Breckenridge
$2,750.00
The afternoon Space Club program is an engineering curriculum providing weekly design challenges to encourage children to think outside the box. Weekly lessons include instructional videos and live career chats that connect activities to real-world professionals, science concepts and exciting current events. Funds will support attendance by those who would otherwise be unable to participate.
Summit Historical Society
Dillon
$3,000.00
The Summit Historical Society will expand a program that communicates how the UTE people (who have lived in Colorado the longest) used science, technology, engineering and math to survive and prosper. A travel module will be built for the program, additional locations will be identified and training and delivery of the program will occur.
NEVADA
Carson City County
Pioneer Academy
Carson City
$3,000.00
A “Discovery Block” program will allow students blocks of time to work on interdisciplinary projects. This program will involve 130 students and will focus on projects that apply interdisciplinary skills to projects that are broader in scope, like building a greenhouse or a community book box. Funds will be used for materials to build and install chosen projects.
Washoe County
Tahoe’s Connection for Families
Incline Village
$2,171.29
The “Our Beautiful Tahoe” program utilizes field trips, circle time, songs and rhymes to develop early childhood literacy. Funds would be used for books and supplies, manipulatives and outdoor education specialists.
UTAH
Summit County
Park City Reads
Park City
$1,550.00
Resources and support will empower struggling readers to reach their full potential. Funds will be used to purchase the 1 to 1 Geodes Tutor Kit (176 books) for a new lending library available to parents so they can better support their children at home. Parents will be able to borrow and return books during office hours when they can interact with advocates and learn more about available resources.
Trailside Elementary School
Park City
$1,500.00
This program is a Chemist’s Carnival and Cardboard Carnival, a two-pronged STEAM program exploring the science of chemical and physical changes through carnival foods and the engineering, math and visual art concepts behind common carnival games. Funds will purchase snow cone, cotton candy and hot dog machines, construction materials and other supplies for use during the Carnival. The program will be presented in 2nd grade classrooms
WISCONSIN
Clark County
Colby Community Library
Colby
$3,000.00
A “Remembering the Past…Understanding the Present…Envisioning the Future” program will expand on the quantity and quality of the library materials in our Local History/Wisconsin History room. Funds would be used to purchase adult and youth history books, biography and local books and supplies. This Library provides a gathering place and activities where they are limited. They would expect 400 to use the requested books in the first year, and 250 to attend programs.

Middle Park High School – Programming Class/Robotics
Granby
$3,000.00
This project will provide a general introduction to computer programming. 100 students will have an opportunity to learn basic programming concepts. Some may choose to enroll in a competition team. Funds will be used to purchase robots, licenses and parts to expand the project and replace some of the costs incurred during COVID-19. Some funds could go to competition expenses for two teams as well.
Mountain Top Exploratorium
Breckenridge
$3,000.00
A 1-on-1 math and language tutoring program will help keep Summit County students on track during COVID-19. This program has 65 regular attendees, and funds will be used for curriculum, manipulatives and books along with tutoring costs.
Roaring Fork Conservancy
Basalt
$3,000.00
A STEAM summer program for teens will combine scientific observations with an Augmented Reality Sand Table and direct art instruction. Students will create a series of artwork that will be displayed at the River Center’s Riverscapes Exhibit. Funds will cover supplies and 30 hours of instruction.
Silverthorne Elementary School
Silverthorne
$3,000.00
Funds will be used to purchase bikes, bike stands and repair tools so students can learn maintenance techniques and then get outside to enhance learnings from their STEM lab. The 5E instructional model allows students from all backgrounds to learn STEM skills while experiencing activities they couldn’t otherwise access. 300 students will participate in this project. This Title 1 school has 70% free and reduced lunch program participation and 60% English Language Learners.
Silverthorne Elementary School
Silverthorne
$870.00
Two levels of a Reading Milestones program will be purchased and delivered to students with disabilities in the RTI process along with second language learners. An objective is to help students turn reading from a hardship into something they can feel confident about and enjoy. All are two or more grade levels behind in reading.
Steamboat Montessori
Steamboat Springs
$3,000.00
Lego Mindstorm kits will be purchased for use in a fourth through sixth grade robotics program. Four eight-week sessions will be held, allowing 60 students to benefit across the three grades, and some in the sixth grade will advance to competitions. Students will communicate their experiences and challenges via a social media platform.
Summit County Library
Frisco
$3,000.00
The Library will purchase an AWE computer to be used for language and STEM engagement with pre-school and elementary school children. Funds will be used to purchase a Bilingual Early Literacy Station and will serve approximately 40 students per month. The program will be augmented by bilingual instructional materials, signage and programming provided in the Library budget.
Summit Historical Society
Dillon
$2,150.00
Funds will be used for a hands-on education program focused on Colorado’s Ute history. It utilizes STEM skills to teach students how the Ute solved problems in the past and how they are solving them in the present. Project materials are already available, so funds will be used for training, coordination and delivery of the program in schools. Some additional supplies and materials will also be required.
VOICES
Carbondale
$1,250.00
A Visual Journaling Project will help approximately 100 new immigrant students learn writing, reading and speaking skills while expressing themselves creatively through art. Funds will be used for journals and art kits and some administration along with support for a bilingual and bicultural teacher.
UTAH
Park City Reads
Park City
$1,000.00
Book purchases will assist educators in learning new techniques for reading instruction, including overcoming dyslexia and other reading challenges. Funds will be used as part of the Educator Resource Book Project to purchase books that will be used by 10-20 teachers with the objective of improving reading for hundreds of students.
VIRGINIA
Forgotten Farms
Willis
$3,000.00
Funds will be used for a hands-on soil literacy curriculum for children, parents and educators alike. This program will be easily replicated for farm field trips to the Forgotten Farms Network and can be customized for other farms outside their network as well. Funds will cover curriculum development expenses including the materials that will be developed for the program. Forgotten Farms is a member of the Acres, Inc. community.
WISCONSIN
Colby Community Library
Colby
$3,000.00
A variety of large print, audio books, totes and outreach materials will serve library patrons who have vision issues or need to develop new skills because of declining vision. Materials will be supplemented by an online book discussion group and programs offered on-site in nursing homes. Over 200 current and new patrons are expected to use the purchased materials, and a subset of those will benefit from programs in nursing homes and the online book discussion group.

2022
This year saw a return for most of our applicants to more normal circumstances, and we are very thankful for that. We received a number of creative applications for populations with a high level of need. We are so thankful to all of the people who contribute to their communities through the programs they imagine, plan and then bring to fruition. They are all our heroes.
Education Foundation of the Summit
Breckenridge
$2,800.00
Funds will be used to purchase up to 2 books per month for up to 250 students at 3 elementary schools. The project’s objective is to develop lifelong and enthusiastic readers among high risk groups. The principal strategy is for students to have a library of books available in their homes.
Grand County Library Foundation
Granby
$3,000.00
Funds will be used to develop a space in Grand County libraries that engages infants and toddlers along with their caregivers. Furniture, board book shelving and interactive walls will facilitate interactive play, writing and speaking. Approximately 360 young people will be served through these purchases.
Headwaters Ecology and Community
Winter Park
$3,000.00
This program will teach the critical role of the headwaters that begin in Grand County and how they impact the environment, economy and lifestyle. Funds will purchase science kits and materials and provide hands-on ecology programming. Support staff time and costs for space use will also be included. They plan to serve over 1,000 students through this program during the coming year.
Horizons Specialized Services
Steamboat Springs
$1,708.73
Funds will purchase a range of tools and technologies to be used with children aged birth to three who have at least one delay in cognitive, communication, social/emotional, physical or adaptive skills. Items address a range of skills including senses, feelings, vocabulary, music, rhyming and STEM skills. 80-90 children across three counties are typically served through this program.
Integrated Community
Steamboat Springs
$2,500.00
Funds will be used for training and materials as part of a volunteer tutoring program for youth who are at-risk academically. Over 50 students will be paired with a tutor following an application by a teacher and a parent, teacher and student meeting. This is a new program started during COVID-19, but Integrated Community plans to make this a permanent program.
Kathryn Senor Elementary New Castle
$2,835.00
A Phonics Core Program for Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grades will be purchased. These materials will be organized, professional development will be provided and the program will be delivered in the coming months. An increasing number of students are falling behind in their literacy skills, and metrics will be established to measure progress. Approximately 100 students will be impacted through this program.

Tahoe’s Connection for Families
Incline Village
$1,326.00
Tahoe’s Connection for Families musical circle time program will be expanded. The program helps with early language and literacy skills along with listening and attention skills while enriching print awareness. Funds will be used to purchase musical instruments, manipulatives and to support a musical specialist who will implement a structured program focusing on music, literature and play.
CALIFORNIA
El Dorado County
Bijou Community School PTA
South Lake Tahoe
$3,000.00
A burgeoning STEAM program that will bring drumming lessons to 22 classes (k-5) will be supported with these funds. Each lesson introduces a new culture and drum while giving further understanding of musical techniques, rhythm and pulse. Language skills relating rhythms to word syllables and beat sequences relating to mathematics are emphasized. Funds will pay for instruction and serve 540 students.
Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe
South Lake Tahoe
$3,000.00
A math intervention club will serve 5 children per session with 8 sessions per week (40 children). Students in this district are currently 48.9 points below the State standards for math. Funds will be used to pay for instruction costs. Sessions will be separated by age and help in English and Spanish. The club will run for one academic year and regular tests will ensure student progress.
Nevada County
Chicago Park School District
Grass Valley
$3,000.00
Students in the 2nd – 5th grades will receive hands-on, standards-aligned instruction through a forest experience or watershed education. Field experiences will be followed by an aquatic biology lab. This program is done in partnership with Sierra Streams Institute. At the end of their experiences students exchange letters with students at another rural school, adding processing, presentation and sharing scientific knowledge elements to the program.
Clear Creek School
Grass Valley
$3,000.00
Students in the 2nd – 5th grades will receive hands-on, standards-aligned instruction through a forest experience or watershed education. Field experiences will be followed by an aquatic biology lab. This program is done in partnership with Sierra Streams Institute. At the end of their experiences students exchange letters with students at another rural school, adding processing, presentation and sharing scientific knowledge elements to the program.
Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Foundation
Grass Valley
$3,000.00
Books will be purchased and given to children at well-child medical visits. The Read Me a Story program provides books to children in rural western Nevada County age six months to five years. With these funds Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Foundation hopes to add books in English or Spanish for children 6-8.
The Friendship Club
Grass Valley
$1,000.00
The “Future Fridays” program allows young women to gather and meet a professional in a field of interest and visit a business for an immersive experience into the world of work. Past visits have included visiting a florist to see what is involved in putting together a bouquet, learning welding skills at a local metal working shop and visiting a supermarket to learn what happens behind the scenes. Funds will be used for program materials, transportation and meal costs.
Yuba River Charter School
Grass Valley
$3,000.00
Students in the 2nd – 5th grades will receive hands-on, standards-aligned instruction through a forest experience or watershed education. Field experiences will be followed by an aquatic biology lab. This program is done in partnership with Sierra Streams Institute. At the end of their experiences students exchange letters with students at another rural school, adding processing, presentation and sharing of scientific knowledge elements to the program.
Women of Worth
Nevada City
$2,680.00
Funds will support execution of the first of nine modules in a Financial Literacy program called “Budgeting to Make Ends Meet”. This program is designed to help women of domestic violence living at the Women of Worth Hetty’s Haven. Funds will allow Women of Worth to implement a 2-month pilot module that will help finalize format and content specifically designed to meet the needs of women of domestic violence.
Williams Ranch Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization
Penn Valley
$3,000.00
STEM kits will be purchased and kept in the school library for teachers to check out and use in the classroom. These funds would purchase Sphero SPRK+ Classroom packs and associated STEM materials. Williams Ranch has a number of Title One students and is underserved in terms of STEM education.
Tahoe Truckee School of Music
Truckee
$2,500.00
25 instruments will be purchased to be used by students who qualify for the school lunch program. The instruments will be provided free of charge as long as they continue to take lessons. Lessons are provided at a 50% discount. Instruments will also be taken into the schools for demonstrations so that students can both hear and play the instruments.
UTAH
Summit County
GFWC Park City Athenaeum
Park City
$500.00
The Book’n on Home project serves around 80 students at each of two schools. The GFWC Park City Athenaeum Club provides take-home books and a group reading experience for first graders. The program was initiated at one elementary school with a large Latino population and has now been extended to a second school.
Trailside Elementary School
Park City
$1,000.00
The annual “Reach the Peak Reading Challenge” is a school-wide program designed to encourage recreational reading and develop lifelong reading habits. For three weeks, students log their daily reading. Individual students contribute to classroom and school-wide goals and meeting them rewards the whole school. Funds will be used solely for books for participants.
WISCONSIN
Clark County
Colby Community Library
Colby
$3,000.00
Funds will purchase program supplies, tutoring materials and teen/young adult books to improve and expand Teen/Young Adult services at the Colby Community Library. The Meet Me @ The Library program will increase literacy and improve reading and writing skills in youth ages 13-19, encouraging them to become life-long leaders and help them become active in their communities at civic events.
Tread of Pioneers is working to preserve the Steamboat Pilot & Today’s photo archive. Funds will be used to support an intern who sorts, cleans, sleeves and processes the photos. They are then made available for use throughout Routt County and Northwest Colorado. This is a high priority for the Tread of Pioneers Museum and their work is appreciated by the Steamboat Pilot & Today.
Weld County
Dos Rios Elementary School
Evans
$3,000.00
These funds will add a Lego wall and art wall and will purchase consumables for both walls at the Makerspace at Dos Rios Elementary School. The walls will be designed out of golf tees with pegboards and STEAM stations. This project adds another dimension to the Makerspace and will be extremely beneficial for students with disabilities who can get up close to build and create.
Galeton Elementary School
Galeton
$3,000.00
Student materials are needed to implement the final phase of Steven Covey’s Leader in Me program. Galeton Elementary is a rural K-5 school of 133 students with a 49% free and reduced lunch program. Trauma cases have more than doubled in the school and this will gives students confidence, communication abilities, goal setting skills and leadership development opportunities.

Pioneer (Alternative) High School, Carson City, $3,000.00
Conversion of the old student lounge at Pioneer High School into a recording studio. Students will research, order, and install all necessary equipment to create a working recording studio. Additionally, software will be purchased so that students can produce and record their own beats and songs. Funds will all be used for equipment for the recording studio, and elements of the mathematics curriculum along with music education will be integrated into the program.
Pioneer (Alternative) High School, Carson City, $2,000.00
An innovative program encouraging more student engagement in chemistry by tying it to art. Use of materials from the American Chemical Society would show students practical application of chemistry to something many of them are passionate about – art. Funds will be used to purchase art supplies and testing materials to conduct experiments.
J C Fremont Elementary School, Carson City, $3,000.00
Teacher support as they instruct students at the level of complexity required by the Nevada Academic Content Standards for reading and social studies. Funds will be used to purchase primary source kits and allow access to digital materials for use by 16 kindergarten through third grade teachers who will teach 330 children. This program will help children in a school where over 50% of the Kindergarten through third grade students are deficient in reading based on the criteria of the Nevada Read by Grade 3 Act.
Lyon County
Get in the Act! Arts in Action, Dayton, $2,650.00
A two-week interdisciplinary school program scheduled for January 2020 that will advance art and science learning for 300 elementary students at Grace Bordewich Mildred Bray Elementary School in Carson City, NV. Using all their senses in the learning process, students dramatize science concepts in scenes with their peers, quickly connecting these concepts to their everyday world. Because students have a memorable experience acting-out these scenes, they can learn and retain the science content associated with these scenes.
Washoe County
Incline Elementary School, Incline Village, $3,000.00
Delivery of a workshop by Get in the Act! Science Theater at Incline Elementary School. Topics will be aligned to Incline Elementary School “STREAM” curriculum and to Next Generation Science Standards. Students participate in single and multi-day topics such as energy, light, rocks, and weather to explore science through word and movement. Funding will provide workshops for over 200 students.
Sierra Nevada Journeys, Reno, $2,787.00
An estimated 450 children and their families will participate in three Family STEM Nights in northern Nevada. Family STEM Nights invite K-6 students, their parents, and siblings to attend a fun evening with engaging stations that reinforces STEM concepts learned in the classroom and fosters curiosity, innovation, and teamwork. Funds will be used for coordination and delivery of the program, supplies and education team transportation.
CALIFORNIA
El Dorado County
Juvenile Service Council of El Dorado County, South Lake Tahoe, $2,600.00
The “Character-Based Literacy’” program, which was designed to serve students who are at serious risk for school failure and antisocial behavior. The program addresses the unique literacy needs of the at-risk and adjudicated youth attending the Blue Ridge Court School located at the Juvenile Treatment Center. Students engage in literature that is not only acceptable for grade level credit, but also engages their imaginations, connects them to characters they care about, and provides opportunities to discuss the value context of the literature. The strategy integrates reading, writing, listening, speaking, viewing, and visually representing the literature. Funds will be used for MP3 players, book titles and an annual fee for the “Character-Based Literacy” program.
Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe, South Lake Tahoe, $3,000.00
A reading intervention program for Boys and Girls Club members aged six to fourteen who are below State reading standards for their grade. A retired elementary teacher works individually with students who have been identified by their teachers as behind but being capable of reaching grade standard. These students are not engaged in reading intervention in their schools and so they are falling through the cracks. This program was implemented in the fall of 2018 and these funds will help to continue it.
Nevada County
Chicago Park Elementary School, Grass Valley, $3,000.00
Watershed education in the form of a field experience followed by an aquatic biology lab. This project builds upon a previous successful watershed field and lab curriculum in a disadvantaged rural school. Students will receive hands-on, standards aligned watershed science instruction. Funds will provide a comprehensive program to 2nd through 5th grade students that includes instruction, educational materials, and teacher curriculum guides. . After a field trip and lab experiences, all students will write letters about their watershed and exchange letters with students from Clear Creek School.
Clear Creek Elementary School District, Grass Valley, $3,000.00
Watershed education in the form of a field experience followed by an aquatic biology lab. This project builds upon a previous successful watershed field and lab curriculum in a disadvantaged rural school. Students will receive hands-on, standards aligned watershed science instruction. Funds will provide a comprehensive program to 2nd through 5th grade students that includes instruction, educational materials, and teacher curriculum guides. After a field trip and lab experiences, all students will write letters about their watershed and exchange letters with students from Chicago Park School.
Grass Valley Charter School Foundation, Grass Valley, $1,400.00
The “STEAM on the Yuba” project will engage students across Nevada County by providing science and engineering tools and lessons to complete the 20-foot scale model of the Yuba River that was recently constructed in the Science Garden at Grass Valley Charter School. This project will add interactive STEAM features to the model. Funds will purchase Pelton Wheel Turbines with DC generators, an air compressor, books concerning hydropower, reusable kits for student-designed water wheels and other miscellaneous supplies.
Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Foundation, Grass Valley, $1,000.00
The Read Me a Story program, which provides books to children in rural western Nevada County during eight well-child medical visits, age six months to five years. During each appointment, pediatricians speak with parents about early literacy and their child’s development; and provide educational materials and an age appropriate book in English or Spanish. Funds will provide books for approximately 200 children and materials for parents, including materials sharing the importance of limiting screen time for their young children.
California Heritage Indigenous Research Project, Nevada City, $3,000.00
A project is to develop and teach six beginning Nisenan language classes. The classes will target Tribal youth but be accessible to Tribal members of any age who are beginning language learners. Advanced language students who currently work with a Linguist will serve as teachers. Funds will be used for consulting, program development costs, office equipment to prepare materials, printing, videography and printing. This program will invest in teaching the language of the Nisenan Tribe to children so that it might live into the future.
Placer County
Tahoe Lake Elementary, Tahoe City, $2,500.00
Creation of a “Reading Sanctuary’” room at Tahoe Lake Elementary School. Funding would be used to upgrade reading sets focusing on science, non-fiction, early reader, and high-level interest sets for reluctant readers in a Transitional Kindergarten-4th curriculum. Some funds will be used to purchase parent resource books to create a small lending library promoting parent education. The “Reading Sanctuary” room will provide a more mindful and quiet environment to promote best learning practices when this school of 250 students moves back into its remodeled school during the summer of 2019.
UTAH
Summit County
Park City READS, Park City, $1,500.00
The “Park City READS” Advocate Program, which provides assistance to families of struggling readers. This grant will support the purchase of books for families that educate both parents and students about learning differences, including dyslexia, which is the most common reason for reading difficulties. Funds will be used to purchase books that will assist at least 75 families during the coming year. Some titles will be age appropriate while others would focus on providing parents with information about what dyslexia is and assistance in supporting their child’s reading development.
Trailside Elementary School, Park City, $1,000.00
Trailside Elementary School’s annual Reach the Peak Reading Challenge. This is a school-wide program designed to encourage recreational reading and develop lifelong reading habits. For three weeks, students log their daily reading. Individual students contribute to classroom and school-wide goals and the whole school is rewarded by meeting them. Funds will go to the cost of supplies, printing, progress tracking posters and books.
WISCONSIN
Clark County
Colby Community Library, Colby, $3,000.00
The “Literacy for a Lifetime” project at the Colby Community Library will encourage young families to participate in library programs, which teach literacy skills to children of all ages. Funds would allow purchase of books for “new baby bags” buy folders/supplies for the 1,000-4,000 Book programs that incent reading at a young age (1,000 books B4 the End of Kindergarten, e.g.), acquire story time materials for the year and hire speakers for parenting education.

NEVADA
Carson City
Empire Elementary School, Carson City, for $1,500
Creation of a library of science books that can be checked out and used to supplement other materials and to help support and solidify student learning. Books have been chosen for their correlation with the NGSS science standards. This program has the goal of increasing science scores in a Title 1 school where 100% of students receive free breakfast and lunch every day. Last year only 20% of the students were proficient in the NGSS science standards.
Fremont Elementary Pre-Kindergarten, Carson City, for $2,000
A project that enhances the early learning environment of underprivileged students by providing materials and experiences that build upon their natural inclination to explore, build and question. Funds will purchase materials and storage for use in the classroom and for a visit to the Terry Lee Wells Discovery Museum. An inquiry-based approach will help four and five year olds see themselves as scientists and consumers of science.
Mark Twain Elementary School, Carson City, for $2,814
In-class robotics and coding lessons for pre-K through fifth grade students. Funds wills be used to purchase LEGO MINDSTORMS robot kits and books along with Fisher Price Code-a-Pillar sets and extensions. A STEM Coach will also provide an opportunity for interested students to participate in an afterschool Coding and Robotics Club and demonstrate their robotics and coding skills for their families. Mark Twain is a Title 1 school with a 100% free breakfast and lunch program.
Churchill County
Churchill County Library, Fallon, for $3,000
Grant money will be used for the “Libraries Rock” Summer Reading Outreach Program at the Fallon Youth Club, Churchill SumFun and at NAS Fallon Child and Youth Programs. Weekly visits to these organizations will include time to read stories, provide books to take home and stamp a book log. Children will also get to know Library employees and feel more comfortable going to visit the library. More than 200 children ages 3-14 will be served through this collaborative effort.
The Churchill County Museum / Education Department, Fallon, for $940
A weekly activity in the Churchill County Museum’s “Discovery Room” to help children Discover, Educate, Create and Communicate. Monthly themes will be drawn from The Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library books. In addition to The Cat in the Hat books, funds will be used to buy supplies to produce and maintain a weekly activity such as a craft, science experiment or learning module. These activities will promote an interactive learning environment so that between 1,000 and 1,250 children and families can learn, read and play together each year.
Washoe County
Incline Elementary School, Incline Village, for $3,000
Delivery of Get in the Act’s Science Theater Workshops to all 340 students in grades K-5. Funds will make it possible for “Get in the Act!” science partners to be in the building for two-to-three weeks in order to give every student access to workshops that include topics like Weather, Rock Hounds, the Plant Life Cycle and Force and Motion. The school district does not provide funding for any auxiliary science instruction for grades K-5.
Sierra Nevada Journeys, Reno, for $2,667
Funding for three Family STEM Nights. K-6 students, their parents and siblings will attend fun evenings with engaging stations and interaction that reinforce STEM concepts and foster curiosity, innovation and teamwork. Funds will be used for project coordination, program delivery and a portion of the consumable supplies and snacks used at each event. Approximately 600 students from three local low-income schools will be served by these activities.
CALIFORNIA
Nevada County
Chicago Park School, Grass Valley, for $3,000
A Sierra Streams Institute program that will provide experience for three, 3rd through 5th grade classrooms in creating and answering their own research questions. Funds will be used for pre-trip classroom visits, class visits to the Woolman Research site and post-trip creation of posters and letter writing that can be shared with other classes. Students will learn to formulate a testable question, collect data to answer the question and summarize their findings. Knowledge sharing will occur with Clear Creek Elementary School.
Clear Creek Elementary, Grass Valley, for $3,000
A Sierra Streams Institute program that provides 2nd through 5th grade classrooms experience studying water quality, riparian plants and aquatic insects. Students will visit a local river where they will rotate through science stations and collect samples to be studied in a microscope lab at the school Funds will be used for instruction, educational materials and teacher curriculum guides. Lastly, $700 in matching funds will be added to the program and knowledge sharing will occur with Chicago Park School.
Grass Valley Charter School, Grass Valley, for $3,000
This grant will be for the incorporation of computer coding into the STEM curriculum for K-5th graders. Funds will be used to purchase robot activity sets and puzzles that will be utilized by 240 students in weekly STEM classes. Students will, for example, create a path and then use coding cards to code a robot to navigate the path or play “games” that focus on coding, math or color theory as they enhance critical thinking and problem solving skills.
The Friendship Club, Nevada City, for $1,125
Books and snacks to be used as part of the Book Friends weekly reading club will be covered by this grant. The Book Friend program strives to keep girls intellectually engaged, curious and learning through the summer. The group also visits the local library and closes out the summer with a Literary Lunch. The Friendship Club engages, educates and empowers at-risk girls in a year-round prevention program designed to increase their academic, social and emotional skills.
El Dorado County
Sierra House Elementary School, South Lake Tahoe, for $2,800
The “Full STEAM Ahead” program promoting art and technology literacy integrated into existing curriculum. Two strategies will be employed. For one, a credentialed art teacher will collaborate with teaching staff. Students will complete lessons on science and in the garden, create models based on Life and Earth Sciences lessons and then create a piece of art using best-practice arts education methods. Students take their artwork home to share their improved understanding of the creative process with family. The second strategy brings challenging technology to students while engaging in imagination, problem solving, creativity and teamwork skills. Funds will purchase a variety of STEAM-focused materials to support the robotic lessons, will fund art instruction and materials for art instruction. Lessons will reach all 517 students, as well as a weekly after-school club class.
Tahoe Valley Elementary, South Lake Tahoe, for $2,989
The Family Resource Center will use funds for development of a Family Literacy Garden at the school. Gains have been made in lowering the number of “below grade level” readers in this school, which has a large percentage of economically disadvantaged families and foster youth. This program will focus attention on family education, providing families with access to quality literature, a warm, inviting environment in which to read and information and training on how to effectively work with children to build critical thinking and literacy skills using non-threatening methods. Funds will purchase multi-level fiction and non-fiction titles, a “Free Little Library” will be purchased and installed and pamphlets will be created that talk about how to develop literacy skills.
South Lake Tahoe Family Resource Center, South Lake Tahoe, for $1,000
This grant is for journals and writing materials to be used as part of a summer program for 1st through 5th graders. Participants will review the previous year’s reading program and continue reading and writing activities during the summer when children may fall below grade level. The “Parabajitos” programs allows underserved Latino youth to engage in supervised structured activities centered on education, healthy choices and respect for each other and the greater community in which we all live.
Marine Research Education, Inc., South Lake Tahoe, for $2,650
For a project focusing on increasing awareness of environmental stewardship and reducing the human effect on our ecosystem. Two classes at two schools (four classes total) will receive “on-shore” classroom teaching about the Lake Tahoe ecosystem. This lesson explains how both natural factors and human activities affect the ecosystem of the Lake. A second “on-the-water” lesson for the four classes will allow students to measure Lake clarity, view plankton collected from the Lake using a microscope and perform water quality analysis. The cost per class includes boat use, boat captain and teacher salaries, replacement of supplies, and insurance. Marine Research and Education has no administrative costs (program responsibilities are completed by Board Members without compensation).
UTAH
Summit County
Arts-Kids, Inc., Park City, for $2,695
For after-school programming and providing children 8-17 with exposure to activities teaching fundamental concepts in electrical and hydraulic engineering. Funds will purchase reusable equipment and pay for specialized instructors for ten classes at ten different schools or at out-of-school venues. Students will build Bionic Arms and Banana Pianos and participate in facilitated group discussion. The primary prevention program at Arts-Kids is aimed at reducing substance abuse, suicide, depression, gang involvement and other child/teen tragedies by promoting healthy behaviors.
Junior Achievement of Utah, Inc., Salt Lake City, for $3,000
This is a hands-on, real-life simulation program called JA BizTown. It includes approximately 25 hours of prep time in the classroom along with a one-day field trip. Funds will be used for materials, school costs, program support, research and development and evaluation. The STEM initiative at JA BizTown increases student awareness of STEM-related careers and sparks interest in technology at an early age. It also helps students recognize the relationship between what they are learning in school and what they will need to know in the real world. This pilot program will involve fifth grade students at Parley’s Park Elementary School.
WISCONSIN
Clark County
Colby Community Library, Colby, for $3,000
This is for ten learning sessions of the “Full STEAM Ahead” program. The grant money will purchase science, technology and engineering equipment and cover the costs of speakers for events. Two weeks will be spent on each of the five STEAM areas with the first week featuring community members and the second week offering hands-on activities. Colby is a small community with no YMCA, no recreation league, no after school enrichment programs, and a limited number of summer school mornings. The Colby Community Library (CCL) is the place for children and their families to be in the summer, providing a safe and nurturing environment and great opportunities for learning.

NEVADA
Carson City
Mark Twain Elementary School Third Grade, Carson City, NV for $400.00
This is for a program to teach students how to research topics, take efficient notes, write with purpose and organization, create strong introductions and conclusions in essays as well as revise and proofread written work. Funds will be used to purchase 125 Scholastic News Just Write! Workbooks for third grade students.
Carson Middle School, Carson City, NV for $1,500.00
Funds will be used to purchase high interest leveled books for multiple in-classroom libraries as part of a new strategy to appeal to students who struggle with reading and who aren’t easily attracted to reading.
Empire Elementary School, Carson City, NV for $2,291.10
This project will develop a school-wide leveled reading library of multiple copies of fiction and non-fiction books for grades K-5. This library is aimed at assisting English Language Learners along with others not reading at grade level. It will be set up using a checkout system and a variety of strategies to meet individual students’ needs.
Bordewich Bray Elementary School, Carson City, NV for $1,285.19
Sets of books for 2nd and 3rd grade readers that can be used for author studies and “Book Club” discussions will be purchased with these funds. This program will encourage students at this Title 1 school to read quality literature at home with their parents. The at home reading will be augmented by “Book Club” discussions at school.
Get in the Act! Arts in Action, Stateline, NV for $2,400.00
A 16-day hands-on program using dynamic theater techniques will advance art and science learning for 400 students at Fremont Elementary School. Funds will be used to support curriculum development and delivery. Each lesson delivers age-appropriate content based on Nevada’s Next Generation Science Standards.
Churchill County
Churchill County Library, Fallon, NV for $2,750.00
The “Building a Better World Begins with YOU!” program will receive funding. Agriculture is a key industry in Churchill County and through twice weekly Story Times and Friday afternoon STEAM programs families will better understand where food comes from, the growing season, nutrition and local resources. Funds will purchase books and container gardening supplies and will help support presentations.
Lyon County
Silver Springs Elementary School, Silver Springs, NV for $3,000.00
An existing “upcycling” program is in place developing student entrepreneurs who sell their STEAM-based projects at local fairs and events. Proceeds from sales are divided between the students and the upcycling program, helping it to become self-sustaining. Funds will be used to purchase tools (drills, screwdrivers) and supplies (adhesives, mod podge, screws, sandpaper) that can be used to construct sellable goods.
River Wranglers, Dayton, NV for $964.82
Funds will be used to purchase nature-themed fiction and non-fiction books and program and activity supplies. They will also help support the logistics associated with the Once Upon a Trail (O.U.T.) program. The goal this summer is to help O.U.T. programs containing STEAM elements occur in each of the four Nevada State Parks located within the Carson River watershed.
Washoe County
Incline Elementary School, Incline Village, NV for $2,652.00
The Citizen Scientist program is focused on understanding the delicate ecosystem of the Tahoe Basin and how science is informing future decision-making. The funds will be used to purchase water-testing materials so that every student has the opportunity to participate in a water quality study. It will also support transportation to the UC Davis Environmental Research Center and other infrastructure to support the program.
CALIFORNIA
Nevada County
Grass Valley Charter School’s Science Garden, Grass Valley, CA for $2,750.00
A library of books about seeds and their stories, a library of seeds for the community and a seed cleaning station will be purchased in association with this Expeditionary Learning (EL) public charter school’s Science Garden.
Chicago Park School, Grass Valley, CA for $3,000.00
A program for second through fifth grade students will help them learn science by investigating the health of their local watershed. This program will be done in collaboration with the Sierra Streams Institute and our funds will support field trips where students rotate through science stations and do lab work. The program overall includes instruction, educational materials and teacher curriculum guides.
Bitney College Preparatory High School, Grass Valley, CA for $1,096.20
Subscriptions to The Week magazine will be used as part of a weekly Current Events classroom program. Over 100 students will utilize the magazine each week. The Week offers teaching lesson plans and critical commentary for teachers in addition to news from many sources and across a variety of topics.
Sierra Nevada Children’s Museum, dba KidZone Museum, Truckee, CA for $1,000.00
The Music Together program is held both at the museum with children and with families in Kings Beach. The focus of “Once Upon a Time… In the Woods” is child development with a special focus on literacy development of children at the age of 6 and under. Our funds will purchase books and support 8 sessions of imaginary play, reading and singing.
El Dorado County
Juvenile Service Council of El Dorado County, South Lake Tahoe, CA for $3,000.00
Books from a variety of genres are available to youth detained at the Juvenile Treatment Center, and funds will be used to purchase 250 new and replacement paperback books. Some will be purchased in multiples for use in Book Clubs. Others will be used to help complete class assignments and for pleasure reading. Approximately 300 young people ages 14-18 are placed in the two facilities each year.
Lake Tahoe Unified School District-Special Education Preschool, South Lake Tahoe, CA for $2,750.00
This program will incorporate a listening center and extended literacy experiences into the curriculum for preschoolers with special needs. Funds will purchase picture books, a listening center with audio books, flannel stories and puppetry relative to literature along with book bags for children and their parents to check out for use at home.
Friends of the Library of El Dorado County and Barton Pediatrics, South Lake Tahoe, CA for $500.00
Books in English and Spanish will be available to children when they visit the pediatric office. During every well child visit the Doctor talks with the parents and child about reading and then the child is encouraged to choose a book to take home from a bookshelf built by the Doctor’s sons.
UTAH
Summit County
Friends of the Summit County Library, Kamas, UT for $2,000.00
This program will boost children’s confidence in speaking Spanish as a second language. “Cantamos” will use music to engage children in language acquisition, teach community and foster respect. Funds will be used for audio, video and print collections, for musical instruments and other materials to support the program.
The Friends of Park City Library, Park City, UT for $500.00
These funds will help support the GFWC Athenaeum Club Bookin’ on Home project. First graders in an elementary school will receive a book and read books out loud in small groups with these funds. Many students in this school unfortunately do not have any books at home to read and this program jumpstarts interest in reading.
WISCONSIN
Clark County
Friends of the Colby Public Library, Colby, WI for $3,000.00
Last year the “Build a Better World!” summer reading program served over 300 youth ages 3-19 and over 500,000 pages were logged as read. Our funds will help purchase books, Reading Record supplies, Story Time and Craft Time supplies and help support special events as part of this year’s program.

Chicago Park School, Grass Valley, CA for $3,000.00
Field trips for 2nd through 5th grade students will provide an opportunity to walk to a local pond and rotate through science stations. Students will learn about the water cycle, the life cycle and importance of amphibians, play predator-prey games and collect phytoplankton and zooplankton from the pond. After lunch the students will return to the school lab and use microscopes to discover what they have collected from the pond. This program is executed in partnership with Sierra Streams Institute.
Arts Collaborative of Nevada County, Grass Valley, CA for $2,910.00
These funds will bring 30 model lessons incorporating California Art Standards and 3rd grade Common Core curriculum in language arts, math, science, and social studies to two additional school districts. One hundred 3rd grade students will receive weekly standards-based art lessons. Funds will pay for teaching artists and materials and will be matched by participating school districts.
Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Foundation, Grass Valley, CA for $1,500.00
A total of 750 children’s books will be distributed to local families with children ages six months to five years during pediatric well baby visits. This grant will also allow for printing of educational materials that accompany the books. By providing advice, educational materials and books local pediatricians reinforce the importance of early literacy.
Seven Hills School Bicycle Recycle Project, Nevada City, CA for $2,982.41
The Bicycle Recycle Project uses hands-on learning to teach engineering and STEM concepts to students as they repair donated bikes which are then given to individuals who need them. Students participate each year from 5th to 8th grade, and each grade level receives curriculum that advances mechanical procedures learned in the previous grade. The students work in teams of two and at the end of their project they report verbally to the class on the work they accomplished. Funds will purchase tools to support the project in Seven Hills School.
Full-Circle Learning, Nevada City, CA for $2,920.00
Books and field trips will reinforce biology themes while building literacy and phonemic awareness in preschoolers within families where English is not the first language. These books will be used as part of a bilingual in-home reading program building parents’ capacities to reinforce academic concepts, social skills and pre-reading skills at home.
Sierra Nevada Children’s Museum dba KidZone Museum, Truckee, CA for $1,100.00
This spring the museum features a Fairy Tale exhibit called “Once Upon A Time, in a kingdom far away”. The exhibit addresses literacy acquisition for children age six and under through an interactive exhibit in which children and families learn by playing together. Bessie Minor Swift Foundation funds will be used to purchase hardbound books of original fairy tales and to pay for storytellers and a sing-along musician.
El Dorado County
Bijou Community School, South Lake Tahoe, CA for $1,644.75
Eight copies each of 30 Spanish language nonfiction (science and social studies) books will be used in K-3 grade levels for 264 students. The objectives of this project are to provide students with engaging and appropriately challenging nonfiction texts in Spanish, to broaden the variety of books available to students in the primary grades and to increase the number of books teachers have available for small group reading instruction.
Club Literario Hispano program of the South Lake Tahoe Family Resource Center, South Lake Tahoe, CA $1,000.00
Club Literario Hispano is a book club for adult Hispanic women who meet monthly in two separate groups. The club encourages reading, discussion and additional education at the local Community College. Occasionally the club has the opportunity to meet with authors of the books they’ve read. Funds will go to purchase books for the group.
Lake Tahoe Unified School District, South Lake Tahoe, South Lake Tahoe, CA for $800.00
A learning easel, big book sets and an I Can Read book set will be purchased for the 1st grade. The objective of the program is to increase the reading abilities of young students, to help them make the jump to independent reading and foster a lifelong love of reading. The books will be used in the classroom and will be taken home over weekends and holidays.
Lake Tahoe Unified School District, South Lake Tahoe, CA for $2,400.00
Purchase of 200 picture books will build a lending library in the preschool for children with special needs. The objective is to create a diverse library where children can check out a new book each day to be taken home in book bags provided by the teachers and read at home with their families.
South Lake Tahoe Humane Society, Inc. Reading Buddies, South Lake Tahoe, CA for $500.00
New books along with paper and printing for forms, flyers and bookmarks will be used as part of the “My Reading Buddy” program. This program helps youth improve their literary skills by reading out loud to a non-judgmental, friendly dog and handler/tutor. “My Reading Buddy” works with over 200 children at the local library and Boys & Girls Club. Each child’s progress is monitored and at the end of the program they receive a certificate and a book.
Tahoe Valley Elementary School, South Lake Tahoe, CA for $2,973.00
Leveled, high-interest, paired fiction and non-fiction texts will support TK-3 at-risk students’ reading skills while developing lagging background knowledge, vocabulary and higher order thinking skills. This program will also train adults to develop and accelerate reading skills while incorporating STEM.
NEVADA
Carson City
Brewery Arts Center, Carson City, NV for $3,000.00
The Arts in the Park program parks a motorhome between a neighborhood school and a park several days a week throughout the summer. Each week a different instructor working out of the motorhome provides a free art lesson to youth of all ages and then helps expand language skills by talking about the art and its impact. Funds will pay for teacher time and supplies. The program hopes to expand to two locations this summer.
Douglas
Get in the Act! Arts in Action, Stateline, NV for $2,257.00
Science Theater is a three-week program that will advance art and S.T.E.M. learning for 500 students at Fremont Elementary School in Carson City. Professionally trained artists and educators will use hands-on, dynamic theater techniques to enhance STEM concepts for elementary students. Each K-4 class will participate in two lessons for a total of 38 lessons.
Washoe County
Incline Elementary School, Incline Village, NV for $2,736.00
Robotics Club will purchase 15 Ozobot robots and an instructor curriculum from Exploring Robotics. The Club encourages creativity and critical thinking, establishes linkages between different subjects and builds a positive after school program for students. The Robotics Club will engage 80 students over the course of the year, and the robots will be incorporated into the 5th grade science curriculum as well.
OREGON
Douglas County
Umpqua Community College Foundation, Roseburg, OR for $2,500.00
Books, furnishings and literacy resources will be purchased for “Bessie’s Corner”, the learning hub and imagination center for three classrooms at the Ford Childhood Enrichment Center. Swift Communications no longer serves the community of Roseburg, but has great appreciation for the work of Umpqua Community College and great sorrow for the tragedy on their campus last fall. In the nine years since it was formed, the Bessie Minor Swift Foundation has provided 7 grants to the Umpqua Community College Foundation.
Montana
Prairie County
Terry Public Schools, Terry, MT for $3,000.00
These funds will support the creation and marketing of a school annual and articles submitted to local papers about Terry’s 160 K-12 students. Funds will purchase computers for project use, a digital camcorder and associated software. The “Terry Roving Reporters” project will allow for mentoring of reporters in k-12 who will be selected by teachers on a rotating basis. The students will produce three seasonal newspapers (hard copy and digital with video) for the school’s webpage.
Wisconsin
Taylor County
Western Taylor County Public Library, Gilman, WI for $1,000.00
Early childhood literacy “Traveling Tales” themed kits will be created that include books, activity sheets, music CD’s, and puppets. These kits are resources young families and in-home day care centers can check out to share, and library staff can utilize them during Story Time and other early childhood programming events. The kits will be used throughout the year.

El Dorado County
Bringing Art to Schools (BATS), South Lake Tahoe, CA for $2,467.50
Bringing Art to Schools (BATS) is an existing elementary school art program that brings art appreciation and hands-on art activities to more than 1,960 students, Grades K through 5, in the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD). BATS has a staff of nearly 100 volunteer parents, grandparents and other community members who facilitate art lessons in all four elementary schools. Funds will purchase portfolios for use at all of the schools in LTUSD.
Bijou Community Schools, South Lake Tahoe, CA for $750.00
Funds will purchase library bound Spanish books in the natural sciences that are Common Core aligned. Currently, 306 of 585 Bijou students are in the Two Way Immersion program and they are short of Spanish books for the 66 students in the second grade. It is reported that 65% of students are on a free or reduced-price lunch program.
Bijou Community Schools, South Lake Tahoe, CA for $2,628.00
This will purchase two kits ($1,095 each) for units on “Planets and Moons” and “Light Energy” developed by the Lawrence Hall of Science and UCB graduate School of Education as part of the Seeds of Science/Roots of Reading program. These will be used to increase science and language literacy in grades 3-5, impacting approximately 265 students largely of low socio-economic status.
Sierra House Elementary PTA, South Lake Tahoe, CA for $2,800.00
The Sierra House Growing Dome (SHGD) Program is seeking to promote gardening/agricultural literacy within their school. They are greatly in need of books that will integrate gardening, agricultural sustainability and nutrition into the regular classroom instruction which will complement their focus on gardening and positively impact the community. Funds will be used to purchase 150 books, 20 curriculum books and supplies for garden journals.
NEVADA
Carson City
Capital Cities Circles Initiative, Carson City, NV for $2,000.00
This is a cooperative community effort to elevate people out of poverty by intentionally creating relationships across class lines and empowering people in poverty to chart their own course toward self-sufficiency. These funds will primarily be used to purchase computers for the resource center so that adult students, children and tutors can more readily access online learning programs.
Mark Twain Elementary School, Carson City, NV for $2,269.75
This project will use the literacy and music connection as a basis for instruction. It is their goal to improve student achievement in the areas of reading and composition by utilizing Orff Schulwerk practices and instruments in conjunction with children’s literature in the music classroom. Funds will purchase the Game Plan Curriculum book and children’s books for grades 1-5 along with four Xylophones. Mark Twain is a Title 1 school.
Churchill County
Churchill County Library, Fallon, NV for $2,500.00
The Family Reading Program will offer reading and literacy related materials and activities to families in Churchill County. These funds will purchase books, crayons, a cup and bags along with two sets of Legos, a wooden block set, supplies and printing costs and advertising. Materials will be offered in English and Spanish and will be available to the Paiute Shoshone Tribe at the neighboring Reservation.
Friends of Oasis Academy, Fallon, NV for $2,000.00
To mitigate the “Summer Slide,” this organization supports a summer reading program. The program consists of online reading blogs for 200 children in Grades 3-8. Licensed teachers create questions on a novel of their choice and students respond to those questions on a blog. Additionally, they support a six-week tutoring program for students who are below grade level in reading. They have supported this program for the past two summers and the results have been just what they hoped, mitigating the summer slide. The number of students will double, and so they will have increasing costs.
Washoe County
Incline Elementary School, Incline Village, NV for $2,542.00
An integral part of elementary education is providing after school programs where students can continue to learn, but also have fun. At STREAM Club students explore science, technology, reading, engineering, art and math, all focused around a water/nature theme in the out of doors.
Northern Nevada Literacy Council, Reno, NV for $1,500.00
The Northern Nevada Literacy Council (NNLC) plans to build upon last year’s hugely successful Summer Reading Program. NNLC is a school for adult learners taking classes to get their Certificate of High School Equivalency, ESL classes or Citizenship classes. The poverty level in this part of Reno is 61% and the crime rate is 16% higher than other area communities. Seventy percent of the students are Hispanic and 85% of them have children. The Summer Reading program donation will pay for books and instructors so NNLC students and their children experience reading together and activities including science experiments, puzzles, crafts and singing. Funds will pay for instruction, and buy books and backpacks.
Sierra Nevada Journey, Reno, NV for $2,500.00
Funding will serve up to 800 children and their parents in northern Nevada and Northeastern California with four community-building and educational events called Family STEM Nights (FSN). FSNs invite K-6 students, their parents, and siblings to attend a fun, family-friendly evening, which reinforce STEM concepts learned in the classroom. Each event includes mini challenges, family-based competitive projects and dinner. Approximately 200 people attend each event, and SNJ provides a 39% match.
OREGON
Douglas County
Boys & Girls Club of the Umpqua Valley, Roseburg, OR for $2,500.00
Will fund books and reward books. Members can choose and read ten different books and then complete a written report on five of them. They will also take a field trip to a local bookstore to ‘purchase’ a used book. Their books are out-of-date and so interest in the program has waned.
Umpqua Community College Foundation, Roseburg, OR for $2,846.00
These funds will purchase new furnishings (toddler sofas, area rugs, literacy resources) for “Bessie’s Corner”, the learning hub and imagination center for the three classrooms at the Ford Childhood Enrichment Center as part of the Pre-K Literacy in Action Program. UCC has received previous grants for these spaces from the Bessie Minor Swift Foundation and now those have been “well-loved.” The program serves mostly low-income children of UCC students.
Umpqua Watersheds, Inc., Roseburg, OR for $800.00
These funds will be used to expand “Science Friday” on Fridays when children don’t have school at McGovern Elementary School in Winston, OR by adding books, thermometers, hygrometers, barometers, and calculators as part of a climate science component. The program will contribute to science, technology and writing proficiency through development of a “Climate Blog.” An AmeriCorps member helps with course design, and volunteers help as well.
United Community Action Network – Douglas County Head Start, Roseburg, OR for $2,250.00
These funds will be used by the Douglas County Head Start Program for a home family literacy program. Parents will learn how to support their children’s learning through reading and other activities. Our funds will help purchase books and other literacy materials to serve at least 100 families.
SOUTH DAKOTA
Jones County
South Central Resource Conservation & Development, Murdo, SD for $800.00
This summer reading program for children 3-12 will purchase books, writing, drawing materials and tokens for attending the weekly summer reading program at the White River Woman’s Club Library. Funds will purchase nonfiction books at multiple levels of reading difficulty focused on local interest topics, writing and drawing items, sketch boards and attendance awards. The town borders the Rosebud Sioux reservation. The library is open two days a week and average 50 visitors per day.

Catholic Charities of Weld County in Greeley, CO
$2,500 for assessment and development of an instructional plan for children in homeless families who visit the Guadalupe Center. Funds will be used for books, tablet applications, supplies and instructor stipends and parental involvement is encouraged.
High Plains Library District Foundation in Greeley, CO
$2,000 for children’s books for the Riverside Library. The Riverside Library and Cultural Center are part of a 2013 flood rebuilding and revitalization effort in partnership with the City of Evans.
Winograd K-8 in Greeley, CO
$1,491 to purchase 10 levels of the Read Naturally Encore Series, which includes stories, comprehension questions and CDs in addition to other resources. The materials will be used to promote comprehension for students reading below grade level.
Colorado Foundation for Agriculture in Livermore, CO
$2,000 for books and lesson materials that allow volunteers from numerous agricultural groups to bring information about raising crops and livestock to students in Weld County.
OREGON
Douglas County
Glide Elementary School in Idleyld Park, OR
$1,679.70 for books, binoculars, compasses, magnifying glasses and other supplies. These will be used by sixth graders who will write, illustrate, edit and publish individual field guides as a part of a project to revitalize the school campus natural area.
Cobb Discovery Learning Center in Roseburg, OR
$1,243.03 for books to enhance the literacy resources for 7 classrooms serving students 6 weeks to age 10 as well as to create a lending library for mothers undergoing residential alcohol and drug treatment.
CALIFORNIA
Nevada County
Bell Hill Academy in Grass Valley, CA
$1,400 to provide a nonfiction library for a Dual Immersion first grade classroom. The library will include Spanish books and a listening center. This new and growing public school program currently has a waiting list.
Chicago Park Community Charter School in Grass Valley, CA
$2,500 for a Science Education program offered by the Sierra Streams Institute for 2nd-8th grade students. A curriculum guide followed by a local exploratory day trip will provide hands-on scientific observation, data collection and field journaling.
Full-Circle Learning in Nevada City, CA
$2,220 for an in-home preschool program that reinforces life skills and literacy through bilingual reading at home. Funds will purchase books and provide workshops for parents of under served families with themes that include friendliness, respect, cooperation and kindness.
El Dorado County
Bijou Community School Library in South Lake Tahoe, CA
$2,000 for purchase of 180 natural science books in areas including astronomy, earth science, paleontology and zoological sciences. The 583 students at Bijou Community School visit the library each week for story time, and these materials will update their offerings.
Friends of the Library South Lake Tahoe Chapter in South Lake Tahoe, CA
$1,000 for purchase of paperback books to be used in teen book groups at the local juvenile treatment center. Book groups are geared to increasing literacy, comprehension, oral expression and empathy for others.
Tahoe Valley Elementary School in South Lake Tahoe, CA
$2,500 for purchase of leveled, high-interest, non-fiction texts that are at a low-readability level for upper primary students. These will be used to develop reading skills while also developing background knowledge, vocabulary and higher-order thinking skills and to train adults in methods to accelerate reading skills while incorporating STEM.
NEVADA
Churchill County
Friends of Oasis Academy in Fallon, NV
$2,500 for a licensed teacher to tutor using online reading blogs for 200 students in grades 3-8 during the summer months.
Lyon County
Silver Springs Elementary School in Silver Springs, NV
$1,916.22 for the Bessie Backpack Program. Bessie Backpacks will contain leveled readers, iPod shuffles containing books and music focused on emerging learning skills and hints and suggestions for parents. These will be part of a borrowing system for low-income parents of preschoolers.
Smith Valley Friends of the Library in Wellington, NV
$2,408 for purchase of the Renaissance Learning’s Accelerated Reading program for the over 200 students in grades 2-12 in Smith Valley Schools. Reading of both fiction and non-fiction books is followed by comprehension testing specific to the book.
Washoe County
Incline Elementary School in Incline Village, NV
$2,184 for the purchase of Tile Sets, Binders and Dividers to be used with the Barton Reading and Spelling system as part of a literacy program that begins in the summer of 2014 and continues through the 2014-2015 school year. The program will target students who perform at the 25th percentile and below.
Northern Nevada Literacy Council in Reno, Nevada
$2,500 for purchase of books, backpacks, notebooks and instructor time for 20 adult learners and 40 of their children. Adult learners are preparing to pass the GED exam or are taking ESL classes, and this summer program will encourage parents and their school-aged children to read together.

Rotary Club of Summit County * in Silverthorne, CO received $500. The Rotary Reading Buddy Program supports community volunteers in their work with elementary school students to increase their reading and writing skills. They not only learn to read, but read to learn.
Weld Central Middle School/Weld Central High School* in Keenesburg, CO received $1,500. This grant will encourage participation by even more students in a contest utilizing the Colorado Blue Spruce Book Award Nominee list. Multiple copies of nominated books will allow many more students to participate in the contest.
Milliken Middle School in Milliken, CO received $1,500. This grant will fund the establishment of a “lit-circle library” for reading teachers to use in their classes. More up-to-date titles will now be available for a variety of reading levels in 5 classrooms with 20-30 students per classroom.
Highland Elementary School in Pierce, CO received $719. Literacy bags will be provided for parents and guardians of incoming Kindergarten students at this rural district Title I school. Parents bring children to school for an assessment and to meet school staff, and then are given resources to support reading at home.
Tozer Primary and Mountain View Elementary School in Windsor, CO received $1,000. This project’s goal is to pair local junior high and high school student volunteers who are looking for a meaningful experience and purpose to work with elementary students in need of extra help with literacy, homework and social skills. This program is underway and material purchases have been funded to date totally by the teachers and volunteers.
City of Greeley Museums* in Greeley, CO received $1,900. This grant will support the Trials and Deliberations programs through material purchases. Students (grades 3-12) will act as jurors for three cases (property, criminal, water rights) based on actual trials from 1861-1876, developing an appreciation of American history and citizenship while honing students’ reading, comprehension, critical thinking and civic engagement skills.
Boys & Girls Club of the Umpqua Valley in Roseburg, OR received $2,400. The Boys & Girls Club of the Umpqua Valley sponsors a Summer Enrichment Program for members in 3rd – 5th grades who are behind their grade level in reading. They will purchase sets of Hi/Lo Readers from High Noon Books and provide scholarships for those who can’t afford to participate otherwise. This will provide young students with books that match both their interest level and their reading level.
Umpqua Watersheds, Inc. in Roseburg, OR received $575.24. These funds will help kickstart the Wilderness Education project, which is dedicated to protection and restoration of ecosystems in the Umpqua watershed through education, training and advocacy. This Secondary School curriculum will build reading and writing skills through American Literature and explore environmental history and values. This grant will provide material support.
Sunnyslope Elementary School in Roseburg, OR received $1,750. This grant will fund books and book bags that will provide the same book to be read by all families at home over the course of a month. Additional materials in the bags and school activities will coordinate with the second Whole School Reads event at Sunnyslope Elementary School, encouraging the whole family in reading at home.
Umpqua Community College* in Roseburg, OR received $2,200. This grant will help fund the News-Review Family Book Exchange Program for pre-K students at the Ford Childhood Enrichment Center (FCEC) at Umpqua Community College. The books and carts purchased with these funds will initially help develop reading skills for over 80 children, and will be utilized for years to come.
Douglas County Historical Society in Gardnerville, NV received $1,000. The Historical Literacy Project is designed to enhance third and fourth grade student literacy at the same time they become more familiar with Douglas County and Nevada history. With increasingly mandated reading and writing curriculum, this project combines an opportunity for students to bring history to life and encourages them to research and write about what they have learned.
Club IMPACT at Nevada Union High School in Nevada City, CA received $500. IMPACT is an acronym that stands for Influential Members Producing Academic Change for Tomorrow. The goal of this High School Club is to help elementary and middle school students at Bell Hill Academy who need academic support with reading, writing, language, math, and sciences. The material purchases this grant will fund will help these ambitious high school students become a professional team of strong, serious mentors.
Tahoe Institute for Natural Science* Incline Village, NV received $2,400. This project delivers in-school natural science curricula designed to cover specific state education standards for California and Nevada schools. This member-supported organization sought funding to continue to reach more Kindergarten through 5th grade classrooms in the district.
Tahoe Truckee Excellence in Education Foundation* in Truckee, CA received $2,500. This project provides direct service to children who are reading below their grade-level. These reading programs, held in neighborhoods, offer opportunities to use art and science to develop literacy skills.
Lake Tahoe Humane Society and S.P.C.A.* in South Lake Tahoe, CA received $2,500. This grant helps purchase books and create supporting materials for the “My Reading Buddy” program, a canine-assisted literacy program. This program partners with other groups, including the South Lake Tahoe Public Library and the Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe to increase enjoyment of reading and to help children improve their reading skills.
* indicates a previous recipient

East Primary School
Sutherlin, OR
$1,250.00 to fund establishment of libraries of picture books to use in Kindergarten writing curriculum
Glide Middle School
Glide, OR
$575.00 to fund a program to allow for progress monitoring reading, writing and math
Douglas County Youth Orchestra
Roseburg, OR
$1,250.00 to support the orchestra’s bow replacement program
Dos Rios and Meeker Elementary Schools
Evans/Greeley, CO
$1,750.00 to fund development of a Sensory Garden at the Poudre Learning Center
Weld Central Junior/Senior High Schools
Keenesburg, CO
$1,500.00 to purchase of books to be used in a reading contest between the Junior and Senior High Schools to develop an interest in reading for pleasure
City of Greeley Museums
Greeley, CO
$2,400.00 to provide scholarships for students to attend the Fall History Festival at Centennial Village Museum
Ellicott Elementary School
Ellicott, CO
$1,800.00 to fund Family Literacy Kits to be used during the summer library program
Get in the Act! Arts in Action
Stateline, NV
$1,750.00 to provide a Science Action Theater residency at Tahoe Valley Elementary School
Tahoe Truckee Excellence in Education
Truckee, CA
$1,400.00 to fund the El Andar Summer Program, a parent-engaged summer literacy program for low income students
Friends of the Library
South Lake Tahoe, CA
$750.00 to provide eight weekly creative art experiences at the public library
Tahoe’s Connection for Families
Incline Village, NV
$1,840.00 to fund an early childhood literacy program teaching parents how to build literacy in their infants and toddlers
Eagle Valley Middle School
Carson City, NV
$550.00 to fund the purchase of high-interest, low reading level books to assist students reading below grade level
Tahoe Institute for Natural Science
Incline Village, NV
$1,700.00 to provide a set of in-school natural science curricula to connect natural surroundings to science learning experiences.
Sierra SmartPath
Soda Springs, CA
$2,000.00 to fund adult literacy classes in Kings Beach, California and Truckee, California
Chicago Park School
Grass Valley, CA
$2,000.00 to develop a hands-on, family-centered science program
Arts Educational Foundation
Nevada City, CA
$2,000.00 to help implementation of the Watershed Academy, a team-learning project integrating literacy, art and science

Altrusa International, USA
Roseburg, OR
$2,000 to provide programs for schools and families to develop children’s’ interest in reading
Umpqua Community College
Roseburg, OR
$2,000 for reading centers in four classrooms to encourage independent reading in young students
Milliken Elementary School
Milliken, CO
$2,000 to purchase a Promethean Interactive Whiteboard for a 4th grade classroom
Greeley Central High School
Greeley, CO
$2,000 for a multimedia projector and laptop for the English and Journalism department
Superintendent, Weld County School District 6
Greeley, CO
$2,000 to establish a district-wide program providing a weekend take-home “book-pack”
Dos Rios Elementary School
Evans, CO
$2,000 to purchase materials to increase literacy and reading comprehension in reading, science and math
Stryker Institute for Leadership Development
Greeley, CO
$700 to fund a program bridging the gap between literacy and self-esteem for at-risk first generation middle school girls with a desire to go to college
Platte Valley Elementary School
Kersey, CO
$1,200 to fund parent literacy nights

Bijou Community School Two-Way Immersion Program
South Lake Tahoe, CA
$1,960 to purchase leveled classroom readers for the 3rd and 1st grade classrooms
Umpqua Community College
Roseburg, OR
$1,850 for listening centers in four classrooms to encourage interest in reading in Pre-K students
The Melrose Reading Station
Roseburg, OR
$2,000 to present two 10-week Family Literacy Workshops
Hader Connection
Roseburg, OR
$1,500 to create lesson plans for art and history lessons based on stories/illustrations by Berta and Elmer Hader
Douglas County Youth Orchestra
Roseburg, OR
$1,750 to purchase a new bass violin for the orchestra
Dos Rios Elementary School
Evans, CO
$2,000 to purchase materials to promote science and math literacy using technology and hands-on experimentation
Harold S. Winograd K-8 School
Greeley, CO
$2,000 to support the After School Program to provide intervention to increase reading skills
Galeton Elementary
Galeton, CO
$2,000 to be used for tutoring expenses over the summer for students with Dyslexia
Habitat for Humanity International, Inc.
Greeley, CO
$2,000 to provide tuition for children living in Habitat homes to attend the summer Aims College for Kids
Carson City Library Foundation, Inc.
Carson City, NV
$1,000 to help fund programs supporting literacy in the Carson City, Nevada area
ESL In-Home Program of Northern Nevada
Carson City, NV
$1,000 to help fund literacy programs through in-home programs

Altrusa International, USA
Roseburg, OR
$2,000 to provide programs for schools and families to develop children’s’ interest in reading
Umpqua Community College
Roseburg, OR
$2,000 for reading centers in four classrooms to encourage independent reading in young students
Milliken Elementary School
Milliken, CO
$2,000 to purchase a Promethean Interactive Whiteboard for a 4th grade classroom
Greeley Central High School
Greeley, CO
$2,000 for a multimedia projector and laptop for the English and Journalism department
Superintendent, Weld County School District 6
Greeley, CO
$2,000 to establish a district-wide program providing a weekend take-home “book-pack”
Dos Rios Elementary School
Evans, CO
$2,000 to purchase materials to increase literacy and reading comprehension in reading, science and math
Stryker Institute for Leadership Development
Greeley, CO
$700 to fund a program bridging the gap between literacy and self-esteem for at-risk first generation middle school girls with a desire to go to college
Platte Valley Elementary School
Kersey, CO
$1,200 to fund parent literacy nights

The Melrose Reading Station
Roseburg, OR
$1500 to purchase a laptop computer and fund a literacy program
Phoenix School of Roseburg
Roseburg, OR
$700 to purchase age-appropriate classroom reading materials for 14 classrooms
Riddle Elementary School
Riddle, OR
$1700 to purchase a reading intervention component of the core reading program for the second grade
Sunnyslope Elementary School
Roseburg, OR
$700 to purchase lapel microphones and a mixer/amplifier for use in student written plays and other student performances
Umpqua Community College
Roseburg, OR
$2000 to purchase new books for the pre-kindergarten Literacy in Action program at the Ford Family Center
Umpqua Valley Arts Association
Roseburg, OR
$1500 to purchase art supplies for Art Express, an art history program that connects art techniques and history through hands-on lessons for elementary school children