Causes: Education, Libraries

Mission: The king county library system foundation (kcls foundation) creates opportunities to bring literacy, learning and library access to all members of our community. The kcls foundation provides the funding for library initiatives that address community needs, support value-added programs and resources and to help ensure that our public library system is vibrant, relevant and central in the lives of residents. Each year, more than 200,000 children and adults participate in and benefit from kcls foundation-supported programs. For more information, visit www. Kclsfoundation. Org.

Programs: The kcls foundation has continued the capital campaign of $1m for the tukwila library community mosaic. The mosaic will be a community living room and hub of activity in the new tukwila library. Home to the most diverse zip code in the united states, the tukwila community will benefit from having a free and open space located within the walls of the library. It will be available for cultural programs, technology and literacy training sessions, civic gatherings, and festivals.

let's read! Is a two-year pilot project aimed at engaging children and communities not served via the traditional outreach efforts of the king county library system. Let's read! Programs were focused in the areas of greatest need - southeast, east, and north king county. More than 20,000 children, teens, and caregivers attended programs, more than double the initial goal. Even more impressive is the library's achievement in reaching families who had never attended a library program. More than 1,200 participants reported a let's read! Event as their first library program.

our summer learning program - thinkology: the study of fun, emphasizes the importance of reading and learning. Programs aligned with the nation-wide educational focus on stream skills development. Foundation support was used to provide every child who signed up with their own summer journal to track reading. Additionally, the foundation support provided transportation for summer school students to library programs.

the kcls foundation provided support for over 15 library programs in 2014. These include but are not limited to: start to fit, fiestas, friends day, global reading challenge, maker culture, next newbery, sat classes, study zone, take time to read, and teen reading summer program