The Perth Union Library Children’s Literacy Program
Each summer the Perth & District Union Library runs a literacy tutoring program for children ages 4-8 who need extra help reading. The program reaches at risk readers in Lanark County schools and more than 1,400 area children have benefited from the program over the last 25 years. The Library hires tutors to facilitate the program and provides each child with 10 one-on-one hours of summer reading activities.
Ten plus years ago Jim Noble was looking for a local community program to support through an annual fundraising golf tournament. He strongly believes that reading is a core skill that raises one’s quality of life and standard of living. Each year Jim invites clients, business associates, family and friends to join him for a day of golf and dinner. All of the participants generously make a donation to the Children’s Literacy Program. With their support, more than $539,000 has been raised!
Jim realizes that a longer term approach is needed to ensure the legacy of the Perth & District Union Public Library Children’s Literacy Program. With the support of The Perth and District Community Foundation and the Perth & District Union Library a permanent endowment fund has been created for children’s literacy programs. The annual cash flows generated from capital within this fund is intended to exceed the needs of literacy programs for perpetuity.
An ambitious fundraising goal of $500,000 was set. Jim was able to reach this goal through the generosity of like-minded donors who wanted to support children’s literacy within our community. To-date, several donors including Jim had committed in excess of $116,000 in the final year of the charity golf tournament. Jim believes there is no such thing as an unrealistic objective, only an unrealistic timeline.
For more information please visit The Perth & District Union Library or to donate please visit The Perth and District Community Foundation.
