Free Books Available for Children in Southern Minnesota

Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, Owatonna, and Picture Window Books are partnering for a second time to offer free books to children in southern Minnesota through the BookStart collaborative effort. BookStart encourages the development of a life-long love for reading by ensuring that every child has a book of his or her own at home to read or be read to by family members.

Through the first BookStart collaborative effort, the two organizations donated more than 2,000 books to area organizations for distribution to local children. "The opportunity to bring high quality, age-appropriate books to more children in southern Minnesota makes this partnership especially rewarding," said Trixie Ann Golberg, president of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation. "Books have the ability to spark the imagination for both children and adults."

BookStart will select projects based on the number of children receiving books, the project's promotion of childhood learning and literacy, and the benefit to those in need. Eligible projects must be located within the foundation's 20-county service area in southern Minnesota.

"Picture Window Books supports literacy efforts across the country," said Teresa Kittridge, president of Picture Window Books. "We believe one of the best gifts we can give our children is a book of their own. This partnership with Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation is a wonderful opportunity to give the gift of literacy to countless children here in our area."

Applications for participation in BookStart are due by April 20, 2004. Approved projects will be notified in June 2004. For an application or additional information, visit the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation's Web site, or contact Elise Davis, 507/455-3215, elised@smifoundation.org.

Picture Window Books is part of the Coughlan Companies, based in Mankato.

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