Rockville Bank gives $1,000 grant to Link to Libraries

Date: 5/23/2011

EAST LONGMEADOW — The Rockville Bank Foundation has given a grant of $1,000 to Link to Libraries to help promote literacy and donate books to public elementary schools and non-profit organizations in Western Massachusetts, and in Northern and Central Connecticut.

The funds will be used to purchase new books and develop a Read Aloud story hour for children at more than 40 of the sites.

Link to Libraries Co-Founder Susan Jaye-Kaplan stated, "We are tremendously honored that the Rockville Bank Foundation has decided to join us in our mission. This grant will have substantial economic impact in our mission to enhance local school libraries."

Laurie A. Rosner, senior vice president of marketing and administrative Services for Rockville Bank, said, "The Rockville Bank Foundation is proud to support the Link to Libraries program, which will enhance language and literacy skills of children of all cultural backgrounds and to enable them to learn about the world through reading. It's part of Rockville Bank Foundation's mission to make a positive difference in the lives of others."

By establishing and adding to book libraries in public schools and non-profit organizations, Link to Libraries has made a difference. Educators know that effective teaching must begin at the earliest ages with effective literacy practices. First, children must learn to read. By third grade, they should be reading to learn.

Link to Libraries is a grow-ing not-for-profit organization whose mission is to collect and distribute new and gently used books to public elementary school libraries and non-profit organi-zations in order to enhance reading, literacy, and language skills of children of all cultures.

Since its inception in May 2008, Link to Libraries has donated more than 26,000 books to area non-profits and public elementary schools in Western Massachusetts and Northern and Central Connecticut.

For more information about Link to Libraries, call 224-1031 or visit the organization's Web site, www.linktolibraries.org.