Stamford Public Education Foundation Receives $250K In Federal Funds

Information via Stamford Public Education Foundation

STAMFORD, CT — Community members gathered in the Stamford Government Center lobby Thursday morning as Sen. Richard Blumenthal announced $250,000 in federal funding for the Stamford Public Education Foundation (SPEF) and Reading is FUNdamental (RIF).

The news conference began with a warm welcome from Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons, who introduced the Blumenthal. Remarks were made by SPEF CEO Lindsay Wyman, RIF CEO and President Alicia Levi and Stamford Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Tamu Lucero.

"We are deeply grateful to Senators Blumenthal and Murphy for their leadership on behalf of this project and their work to include the funding," Wyman said in a news release. "It's pretty incredible, 36,000 books for 12,000 students, and digital resources for 7,700 students."

SPEF will use the funding to support book distributions and literacy activities for children in the Stamford area, providing three free books to 12,000 Pre-K through fifth-grade students.

In addition, the funds will also help create a free digital library with 1,000 titles and to produce bookmarks, parent tip sheets and other materials to supplement reading engagement.

Each year, SPEF organizes free book giveaways throughout the city with its initiative, Books Across Stamford. Approximately 5,000 free books are distributed to students each year.

The funds will allow SPEF, in partnership with RIF, to more than double this amount, reaching more children and helping them build home libraries.

Founded in 1996, the mission of the Stamford Public Education Foundation is to elevate student success by delivering educational programs and solutions that promote equitable access to quality public education in Stamford.

For more information on SPEF, visit their website.