The Benedum Foundation and Verizon West Virginia are being lauded by West Virginia University Extension Service (WVU-ES) for supporting the development and expansion of an innovative literacy program that uses free children’s books to connect parents with their youngsters’development.
The Outstanding Foundation Organization Award and the Outstanding Corporate Organization Award were presented to Benedum and Verizon, respectively, for their support of WVU Extension’s new Family Storyteller program. The organizations were applauded during Extension’s recent Appreciation and Accolades Dinner at WVU Jackson’s Mill Center for Lifelong Learning near Weston.
During the summer of 2003, the Benedum Foundation provided a $65,000 planning grant to pilot the Family Storyteller program at Energy Express sites in Cabell, Kanawha, Lincoln, Monroe, Raleigh, Upshur, Webster, Wirt and Wood counties.
In 2004, Verizon West Virginia’s $40,000 grant to the program will fund its expansion to more families in additional counties. Family Storyteller provides books and guidance for parents of preschoolers. The program encourages parents to read with their children and teaches them reading-focused activities they can enjoy with their youngsters at home.
Energy Express is a six-week summer reading and nutrition program for limited-resource elementary school students. Energy Express, developed and administered by WVU Extension in conjunction with local community partners, is nationally acclaimed for its success with helping elementary students maintain or increase their reading skills during their summer break.
As WVU ’s outreach division, the WVU Extension Service touches the lives of citizens in every county in West Virginia. Through offices in all 55 counties of the state, Extension provides citizens, businesses, community groups and local authorities with knowledge and assistance in areas such as 4-H youth development, agriculture, family and consumer sciences, health, leadership development and economic development.
Details about WVU Extension Service’s programs are available on the Web ( http://www.ext.wvu.edu ) and at WVU Extension Service county offices.