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April 23, 2008

Pat McGuckin
Henry Haupt

Jesse White Awards Penny Severns Summer Family Literacy Grants

SPRINGFIELD – Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White has awarded grants to organizations located throughout Illinois who will take part in this year's Penny Severns Summer Family Literacy Program.

The program, now in its tenth year, was created by Secretary White to provide instructional service that seeks to enhance the basic reading, math, writing or language skills of both parents and children during the summer, a time when many other educational programs are closed. The initiative was created to honor the late State Senator from Decatur, who was a strong advocate of literacy programs while serving from 1987 until her death in 1998.

"I am very proud that these grants provide important learning activities for families during times when other learning programs may not be operating," said Secretary White. “Parents and their children who want to improve their learning skills need to have access to quality educational programs all year long. The Penny Severns Summer Family Literacy Program fulfills that need, while bringing parents and children closer together.”

In 2007, almost 1,800 adults and more than 3,000 children took part in Penny Severns summer programs administered by local providers.

Services include interactive, reciprocal learning experiences that parents and children participate in together. Individual grants are awarded to educational agencies such as libraries, community colleges, community-based organizations, school districts and volunteer literacy organizations.

White said Illinois has an outstanding network of community-based learning programs that are making a profound difference in the lives of citizens who want to achieve their utmost potential in life by improving their reading and other learning skills.

"My dear friend Penny Severns would be very pleased that our learning programs in Illinois continue to prosper, and I am honored to keep her memory alive by awarding these grants each year," said White.

View the Penny Severns Summer Family Literacy Grants