FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 5, 2005

CONTACT:
Georgia Sheriff, Ph.D.
Director, Drake University Head Start
(515) 271-1854
georgia.sheriff@drake.edu

DRAKE UNIVERSITY HEAD START GETS LITERACY GRANT FOR RIF

DES MOINES, Iowa – Drake University Head Start recently received $1,000 from the Junior League of Des Moines Inc. to help distribute books through participation in the federally-funded Reading is Fundamental (RIF) program.

“More than 1,000 children and their families will directly benefit from this donation,” noted Georgia Sheriff, director of Drake University Head Start. “Our participation in RIF depends upon our contributing a 25 percent match for the federal funds. The Junior League grant will provide almost all the needed matching funds.”

As the largest Head Start organization in the state, Drake University Head Start programming serves more than 1,000 low-income 3- and 4-year-olds and their families in six central Iowa counties. Additionally, Drake University Early Head Start serves pregnant women and children ages birth to 3 years old in Polk County.

Approximately 3,150 books are annually distributed through Drake University Head Start’s RIF partnership. To foster interest and participation, Head Start program parents and other volunteers plan and conduct a variety of activities when books are distributed in December, February and April.

“So much more than just books are involved when we hold RIF activities,” said Sheriff. “We use the book distributions as an opportunity to enhance learning, community partnerships, and interaction among parents, as well as to inspire the children and their families to read more as a way to improve their quality of life.”

According to the Junior League’s Community Grants Chair Kristy Schoneboom, Drake is one of 15 $1,000 grants being awarded to various worthy causes in the area.

“We had a successful fund raising year, which allowed us to award more money this year than last,” said Schoneboom. “We are pleased to be able to help support Drake University Head Start’s RIF activities.”

Head Start and Early Head Start are comprehensive child-focused development programs that serve children from birth to age 5, pregnant women and their families with the overall goal of increasing the school readiness of young children in low-income families.

Both programs provide a range of individualized services in the areas of education, medical, dental and mental health, nutrition and social service to children and their families. Parent involvement is encouraged and support is offered for children with disabilities. Ten percent of the programs' total enrollment opportunities are made available to children with disabilities.

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