Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, Coughlan Companies Donate Books for Child Literacy

Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, Owatonna, has awarded over 6,000 books to 51 area organizations. The books are distributed through the foundation's BookStart program, a collaborative effort with Coughlan Companies, and are valued at $90,000.

"Our partnership with Coughlan Companies provides free books to children through local community distribution projects," said Trixie Ann Golberg, foundation president. "The Foundation remains committed to investing in our youngest children because we firmly believe that these investments pay big dividends for our communities, our businesses and our families," she added.

"We believe the best gift we can give to our children is literacy. Learning to read and write is the foundation of life-long success," noted Bill Coughlan, senior vice president, Coughlan Publishing. Coughlan Companies has donated over $190,000 in books in partnership with Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation's BookStart program since 2003.

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