11
Tremendous Growth
From Lindenberg’s garage to a storage unit
to a church closet and now to a large room
in the annex of the Early Learning Coalition
of Manatee County (ELC), Books For Kids
continues to grow. “Our partnership with
ELC has been wonderful, and I thank Paul
He adds that Books For Kids would not be
such a success story without the Rotary
Club of Lakewood Ranch. “Without their
support, this program would never have
grown to where it is now.”
Books For Kids was nominated for three
county awards by the Manatee Chamber
those awards. Additionally, the Manatee
County School District has designated
Books For Kids as one of two community
groups that are allowed in the schools,
and school district administrators have
participated in the program’s training
“That coordination with the school district
is invaluable,” Lindenberg says. “If you visit
the Manatee School District website and
you click on community partners, it will
take you to the Books For Kids website.”
So, how exactly is Books For Kids making
a difference in Manatee and Sarasota
counties? Cynthia Saunders, Manatee
County Schools Superintendent, summed
it up quite nicely at the annual Books For
Kids Luncheon: “You impact our boys and
girls with the simple joy of reading.”
• For more information about Books
For Kids, visit FLBooksforKids.org.
/FLBooksforKids.org