DATE: June 21, 2011
Boost For Children's Literacy In Solano County
Two major literacy programs for children received a big boost from local businesses who are underwriting some of the efforts of Solano County Library Foundation.
Solano Kids Read, a program that helps students in every city of Solano county to improve reading skills while engaging teachers, librarians, adults at home, and the community in the process, was in danger of elimination. But thanks to generous donors, local public libraries were able to provide youngsters in over 30 schools this year with books and activities aimed at increased literacy and reducing bullying.
Reach Out and Read, where books are read - and then given - to youngsters visiting their primary care physician, is closer to its goal of touching 8,000 families this year.
Syar Industries topped the list of donors to the Library Foundation with a $10,500 grant for Solano Kids Read. NorthBay Healthcare and the William and Patricia Martindale Foundation each added $10,000 to support the literacy efforts of Reach Out and Read. Kaiser Permanente joined with a $7,500 contribution for Solano Kids Read and First 5 Solano added another $7,000 for Reach Out and Read.
Meanwhile, Vallejo Mayor Osby Davis, who conducts a fundraising golf tournament each year to benefit local charities, set aside $5,000 from this year's event for Reach Out and Read.
"These two programs are the centerpiece of our children's literacy campaign," noted Dilenna Harris, executive director of Solano County Library Foundation. "We appreciate the vision and foresight of our donors. They recognize a business community that invests in early literacy will reap the benefit of an educated workforce down the line."
"While the Solano Kids Read program is now fully funded for this year, whether we can continue it next spring remains a question mark," Harris added. "These contributions are a major boost to Reach Out and Read, but we are still a ways from raising what we need to connect with every family with young children who visit their family physicians."
For more information about the literacy program, or the foundation, visit solanolibraryfoundation.org or call 707-421-8075.
"The mission of the Solano County Library Foundation is to support the programs of the Solano County Library and the literacy and lifelong learning needs of the community it serves."
• CONTACT: Dilenna Harris, Executive Director, Solano County Library Foundation, 707.421.8075, dilennaharris@solanolibraryfoundation.org
DATE: Feb 11, 2011
New Board Members Join Solano County Library Foundation
Four prominent civic and business leaders are the newest members of the Board of Directors of the Solano County Library Foundation.
They include Ken Maxey, East Bay government affairs director for Comcast; Glen Faison, editor of the Fairfield Daily Republic; Tom Phillips, operations for Recology Inc. in Vallejo; and Shelli Vasquez, a lifelong Vacaville resident and civic activist.
Shortly after Faison moved to Fairfield in September 2009 to become the managing editor of The Daily Republic Newspaper, he and his wife, Jill, attended the Foundation's 2009 Authors Luncheon. Glen is a member of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Board and has served on several other boards including the American Heart Association.
Maxey joined Comcast in 2009. He holds multiple college degrees and is active in supporting literacy and education efforts such as Comcast's National Read Across America Day. He also serves as an advisor to Youth Radio and the Covenant House.
Phillips is active in Rotary, the Vallejo Chamber of Commerce and Leadership Vallejo. He served on the Salvation Army Advisory Board and has worked on many volunteer projects in Vallejo.
Shelli Vasquez is well known for her volunteerism especially in efforts for those underserved in the community. She is a Master Gardener, Vice President of the Vacaville Museum Board of Directors and an active member of the Saturday Club of Vacaville. Her husband, John Vasquez, is serving his second term on the Solano County Board of Supervisors.
Solano County Library Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to support the programs of the Solano County Library and the literacy and lifelong learning needs of the community it serves. It provides funding for special projects that the Library cannot fund with public dollars, enabling the Library to reach those who need its services the most. It was founded in 1994 and has raised over $1.5 million in support of such programs and projects as the county-wide Reach Out and Read early pediatric literacy program, Adult Literacy programs, Solano Kids Read, Opening Day Collections for new libraries, and art installations at libraries in Vacaville and Rio Vista.