|
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.
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 The Abilene Southwest Rotary Club's activities as well. Since 1960, the Abilene Southwest Rotary Club has annually sponsored the Top Fifty Plus Banquet, honoring the top graduating Seniors from six (originally one) Abilene High Schools. Also, the club provides dictionaries to the third graders of the Johnston Elementary School, and the Club participates in the District Four Way Speech Contest and the District RYLA program.
The Adamson-Spalding Storybook Garden, which is located in downtown Abilene, Texas, is on track to open with a three day celebration, beginning on June 8, 2017. The Storybook project was started in 1996, and the sculpture collection includes 18 outdoor sculptures, based on storybook characters located throughout Abilene. The Garden project, which is a new project, with the added sculptures, will include a wide variety of activities to educate both children and adults, during the annual festival. However, the current donations for the Garden project do not cover the cost for all of the planned features of the Garden.
With this in mind, the Abilene Southwest Rotary Club has been asked to provide 22 trees for the new Garden, and since the Cultural Center is having to outsource some of the bronze casting of the storybook characters they have an immediate need for an additional $2500, so as to complete the project prior to June 8, 2017. This Garden will be a downtown venue for affordable and free family friendly cultural events such as live book readings, theater, musical performances and more. The trees will add an attractive and beautiful look to the landscape, and will offer shade for the patrons on hot summer days. These trees will also support Rotary's goal for planting trees to help our environment .
We propose a $2500 District Grant to match a $2500 donation from the Abilene Southwest Rotary Club to help buy the much needed trees. Due to timing constraints, the club has already donated the amount of $2500 for the trees, and our request is for an additional $2500 for the bronze character castings for a Grant Total of $5000.
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 Abilene Southwest Rotary Club.
|
