Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation was awarding 5,000 books, valued at $33,950, to the Mankato Downtown Kiwanis Foundation. Various Kiwanis Clubs across southern Minnesota, including the Austin Early Risers and Noon Kiwannis, will be reading and distributing the books to children in early childhood settings, such as Head Start, School Readiness and other preschool programs within their local communities. 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.

The books provided to SMIF were donated by the We Give Books program, created by the Penguin Group and the Pearson Foundation as a way for young children, along with parents or caregivers, to understand the power of reading and of giving.

“Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation is committed to helping all children be ready to learn when they enter Kindergarten,” said Tim Penny, SMIF president and CEO. “We know that the Kiwanis Clubs are committed to getting these books into the hands of children.”