Representatives from 26 organizations gathered at Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation’s (SMIF) office in Owatonna to receive books through the BookStart program, a partnership between SMIF and Capstone Publishers.

This effort is part of SMIF’s Early Childhood Program, focused on providing resources so all children can have a healthy life of learning, achieving, and succeeding. Five thousand books were given away last week, a total value of $87,526.

BookStart, now in its ninth year, has provided about 40,000 books to children throughout the region. The goal is for every child to have a book of his or her own at home to read or be read to by family members, which promotes a life-long love for reading.

“We are pleased to be able to partner with Capstone Publishers to provide these books to promote early literacy and learning for our young children,” said SMIF’s President and CEO Tim Penny. “We believe investing in our young children is a long-term strategy that will lead to a capable workforce.”

The organizations were selected because they provide outstanding early literacy opportunities for young children and their families within their community. Each organization will incorporate the books into an event where young children will receive one of the books to take home and keep.

Programs receiving books through SMIF’s BookStart grant

•Albert Lea Public Schools, Albert Lea — “Kindergarten Family Nights”
•The Children’s Center, Albert Lea — “The Children’s Center Clubs”
•Freeborn County Public Health, Albert Lea —”Reading and Resources”
•Prevent Child Abuse MN, Albert Lea — “Circle of Parents: Building Blocks to Reading”
•Holy Cross Lutheran Preschool and Child Care Center, Austin — “Read With Me”
•SEMCAC Inc., Austin — “Family Read-a-thon”