Fundraiser Held to Benefit Evans Students

The following release was submitted by Phil Ellingsworth Jr., representing the Spring-Ford Area School District:

LIMERICK — The gift of knowledge is one of the most important presents that someone can bestow upon a child, which is why educators are asking for the community’s assistance to help raise $12,000 for new dictionaries and thesauruses for the building’s second- through fourth-grade classrooms.

The monthlong fundraiser — which continues until May 5 — was created to help purchase 400 sets of Webster’s New World Children’s Dictionaries and The American Heritage Children’s Thesauruses for the approximately 125 students in each grade. Currently, the school does not have dictionaries and thesauruses for every student in the 16 classrooms, but has 25 dictionaries and thesauruses to use in the building’s library.

Evans Elementary School Librarian April Reitnauer said the use of dictionaries and thesauruses are important to help build, grow and strengthen a child’s vocabulary and spelling skills. Educators saw this predicament as the perfect opportunity to provide all students with the resources they need, which is why they established a Titlewish fundraiser —an online fundraising program from Follett Library Services that allows schools to create a wish list of titles they would like to purchase. Follett Library Services will match the school’s total donations with a 10 percent contribution.

“By purchasing these reference books, our students will be introduced to these valuable resources that help enhance their knowledge and will be comfortable using them throughout their elementary careers,” Reitnauer stated.

If you would like to contribute to the school’s fundraiser drive, visit www.titlewish.com/102400 and click the “Donate” button located on the page.