The Richland County Public Library (RCPL) Foundation has received a $2,500 gift from the First Citizens Foundation to support the library's outreach efforts aimed at increasing early childhood literacy.The donation provided by the First Citizens Foundation will provide a robust collection of 300 quality children's books to 90 children at St. Stephen's Preschool in Columbia's Eau Claire community.
"The First Citizens Foundation is proud to support the ongoing mission of the Richland County Public Library," said Adam Davis, First Citizens Private Banking Group Relationship Manager and Richland County Public Library Foundation board member. "We're pleased that these new books will give many children in our community the opportunity to enhance their reading skills, and we thank the library and its staff for their continued efforts to enrich and educate young minds."
According to RCPL Outreach Librarian Laura Kennett, nothing makes a bigger impact than having access to quality books.
"Thanks to the First Citizens Foundation, the children at St. Stephen's Preschool will increase their vocabularies and literacy skills so they will be ready for kindergarten," Kennett said.
Philanthropic support has made it possible for RCPL to provide programs and services that would otherwise not be available through public funding alone, including outreach to more than 2,000 children from low-income families in childcare centers. Outreach efforts include placing book collections in centers, monthly read-aloud visits by RCPL librarians, and information that informs parents of the importance of books and reading.
For more information on supporting efforts of the library through the Richland County Public Library Foundation, please contact Development Manager Tina Gills at (803) 929-3424 or tgills@myRCPL.com.
