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Children who lack basic literacy skills are at risk of experiencing academic failure, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, delinquency, unemployment, low productivity, and welfare dependence. Studies show that reading aloud to children is the single most effective practice for enhancing language and literacy development. Children with books at home are eight times more likely to list reading as one of their favorite activities. With these statistics in mind, the Rotary Club of Abilene wants to provide lighting for the new Garth Williams Sculpture Garden that will open in June of 2017 as an additional downtown venue for affordable and free family friendly cultural events such as live book readings, theater, musical performances and more. We propose a $1,000 district grant to match a $1,000 grant from Rotary Club of Abilene to help with the lighting of the storybook sculptures in the garden and to make the garden pathway beautifully lit and a welcoming venue for readings and other family activities.
Designated the official "Storybook Capital of Texas" by the 84th Texas Legislature, Abilene is a city that places enormous value on family, art and literacy, and that is reflected in Rotary Club of Abilene's activities as well. The Rotary Club of Abilene annually gives grants to help support underprivileged children to attend the Children's Art & Literacy Festival hosted by the Abilene Cultural Affairs Council, and Rotarians volunteer in different capacities at the festival, from delivering dramatic readings to helping with special events.
Construction on the Garth Williams Sculpture Garden will start in February 2017 at the festival, which draws nearly 5,000 people a year from all over Texas and from other states. Williams illustrated some of the most iconic books of all time and characters from those books will be featured in bronze sculpture in the garden: Wilbur the pig and Charlotte the spider from "Charlotte's Web" and "Stuart Little," and from the Little Golden Book "Three Bedtime Stories" three more sculpture vignettes - "The Three Little Kittens," "The Three Little Pigs" and "The Three Bears." A total of five sculpture vignettes will be unveiled and each will have custom designed lighting so families can enjoy them day and night. The goal of the lighting plan is to make downtown Abilene safe and more inviting for families at night. This year, trees were adorned with twinkling lights and custom lighting added to the other 18 storybook sculptures downtown.
Approximately 65 percent of children in the Abilene Independent School District are "economically underprivileged," and offering affordable, educational and cultural experiences is a priority of the Rotary Club.
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