Literacy Grants
The Literacy Grants program was initiated in 2003 to mobilize members and resources of Phi Kappa Phi and the higher education community to champion literacy initiatives. Grants of up to $2,500 are available to Phi Kappa Phi chapters and individual members to fund ongoing literacy projects or to create new initiatives. The Society’s commitment to the cause of literacy grows out of and is consistent with its mission, which was expanded to include “…and to engage the community of scholars in service to others.”
2008 Literacy Grant Winners
- Bobbi Urban, Minnesota State University
"Bright From the Start" - Mankato Preschool-7th grade level students from a local school serving many underprivileged students will be given a reading kit with highly engaging books that have a Phi Kappa Phi name plate in each. Kits will include a reading guide for students and parents that explains the importance of regular reading and how to foster a love of reading. Matching funds will be used to purchase new and interactive books for the school's outdated library to create excitement about reading. Students will also be challenged to read and then recognized with a certificate for their achievement. Phi Kappa Phi students will help develop the reading guide and assemble kits. Press kits will also be distributed to recognize the program and Phi Kappa Phi. - Mary Pagliero, University of West Alabama
“Rock-n-Read Program” - Phi Kappa Phi Chapter 276 will partner with UWA Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) to promote early literacy. Funds will be used to purchase baby board books into which will be placed literacy pamphlets and a letter prepared by students of both organizations emphasizing the importance of reading to children from cradle to kindergarten. The books will be distributed by Care Coordinators of the HealthStart Maternity Care Program (a Medicaid Agency program) to mothers-to-be in the Tombigbee Healthcare Authority service area. - Michael O’Conner, Millikin University
"Supporting Literacy: Project Success and Family Literacy" - Phi Kappa Phi will support a voluntary after-school tutoring program at one of the local elementary schools and will help expand that program to serve families of the students. Phi Kappa Phi funds will purchase books for the families as well as materials for the tutoring program and for professional development in informational literacy. Students and faculty will serve as volunteers in several aspects of this program. - Kathleen Tice, University of Texas at Arlington
“Literary Livewires: Bringing Books to English Language Learners” - As part of a service learning project, students at the University of Texas at Arlington will read aloud weekly to children attend who attend the Open Door Preschool that serves low-income English language learners. The project will include a family literacy night where each child will be given a backpack that includes the five books that were read aloud. The books will contain the Phi Kappa Phi book plate, and classroom teachers will continue reading aloud from a classroom set of the books. - Anissa Graham, University of North Alabama
"Illuminating Language, Illuminating Culture: A Phi Kappa Phi Hispanic Literacy Initiative" -- In a global community, traditional literacy needs to be supported by cultural literacy. “Illuminating Language, Illuminating Culture: A Phi Kappa Phi Hispanic Literacy Initiative” will combine aspects of traditional literacy programs in an effort to increase cultural literacy primarily among the Spanish-speaking population of English Language Learners (ELL) at Weeden Elementary School but also among students in the school as a whole. The initiative will provide Spanish-English storybooks for the children enrolled in the ELL program; students will be able to keep those books to read at home with their parents. Children will also be provided with special bilingual age-appropriate dictionaries to assist them with homework. The final prong of this initiative involves purchasing materials (DVDs and computer software) for classroom use school-wide that will promote awareness of the cultures of origin of the students enrolled in ELL at Weeden. - Catherine Delk, Austin, TX (initiated in Cameron University)
"Literacy Library for Leveled Reading" - Phi Kappa Phi funds will purchase 200 leveled reading books for an elementary school literacy library. Teachers and volunteers will use these books when teaching reading to beginning readers, below grade level readers, and readers with learning disabilities in grades K-5. A commemorative nameplate will be placed at the beginning of each book, recognizing Phi Kappa Phi for its donation. The local Phi Kappa Phi chapter will be invited to participate. - Judy Stiles, Missouri Southern State University
“Tutoring Adult Learners” - A combined effort with Joplin NALA (Neighborhood Adult Literacy Action) Read, a non-profit, tax-exempt literacy council, and MSSU. The internet of the project is to utilize members and resources of Phi Kappa Phi to foster and strengthen literacy skills of adult learners and coordinate with community resources to provide services, enabling learners to reach their full potential. This will be accomplished by recruiting and tutoring adults who need help in reading, math, and/or English as a second language (ESL), recruiting volunteers, and training tutors. Students from Missouri Southern State University and Ozark Christian College will be recruited as volunteer tutors. In addition, the Director of Joplin NALA Read is a Phi Kappa Phi member and will assist the project Manager, Phi Kappa Phi member Judy Stiles of Missouri Southern State University in overseeing the project. Resources from the grant will provide both literacy and ESL student books. - Donald Austin, Union College
“Building a Math in Literature Library” – The Studying Arithmetic In Literature (SAIL) program at Union College’s Kenney Community Center for Education and Outreach works with two elementary schools in Schenectady, New York, to improve the math and reading literacy skills of 50 at-risk elementary students. Phi Kappa Phi funds will be used to establish a small library of children’s books that fully incorporate mathematics into literature. In addition, funding will purchase additional resources (e.g. reference guides and materials) to help volunteer program educators become more effective at literacy tutoring. - Kathy Richards, Lock Haven University
"Student Library Ownership" - Phi Kappa Phi Chapter 179 will take every fourth grader (approximately 50) from a local elementary school to a bookstore to choose a developmentally appropriate book that they would like to see added to the library collection in their school. Phi Kappa Phi will then purchase the book and put book plates in them identifying the student who chose the book as well as the Phi Kappa Phi name and logo. Each student will then have a sense of ownership in the library collection. - Nita Paden, Northern Arizona University
“Activity-Based Literacy Development: PKP and Federated Head Start” – Northern Arizona University PKP members (students, faculty/staff and alumni) will use reading development materials purchased through the grant to engage low-income Head Start program students in a variety of fun and beneficial reading activities. The activities are designed to take multiple approaches to literacy skill development including word and object association, vocabulary development, listening and reading (music and rhyming) and reading comprehension. - Janet Rice McCoy, Morehead State University
“Rowan County Reads” - University students and their professors partner with the Adult Learning Center for a two-pronged approach to supporting literacy. Education majors will implement monthly enrichment activities for adult clients and their children. Programs will focus on specific books with crafts, games, and reading activities. In November, public relations students will plan a community celebration for National Family Literacy Month. Events will include the mayor signing a proclamation and the distribution of a book to every child enrolled in pre-school in Rowan County. - Sherri Jenkins, Southeast Missouri State University
“Born to Read” - The Born to Read program promotes early literacy through distribution of books to newborns at an area hospital. Phi Kappa Phi members, university administrators, and students hold special events to promote the program and prepare books for distribution by including a Phi Kappa Phi book plate and letter about early reading with babies. - Cynthia Fletcher, Iowa State University
“Raising Readers in Story County” - Phi Kappa Phi funds will support the growing early literacy collaboration by purchasing 833 board books for distribution to children through age 8 at physician check-ups at the urban clinic as well as at five new rural well-child clinics in the county. University faculty and students are volunteering to conduct an on-going evaluation of the project. - Danna Gibson, Columbus State University
“Kindergarten Readiness Partnership” - Members of Chapter 185 will form teams of volunteer readers to go to two of the county’s most at-risk elementary schools to read with children, engaging them in activities pertaining to the stories they have read. Phi Kapp Phi volunteers will read a new book with these children each week, On Friday of each week, the book and all story-related activity materials that go along with the story, will be sent home with that child. It is theirs to keep. Phi Kappa Phi members will keep a daily report on their child’s progress and will maintain a critical incidences log which will be used to compile a booklet that chronicles their volunteer experiences. At the end of the reading program, Phi Kappa Phi members (students and faculty) will present a book collection to each child enrolled in our partnerhsip schools' pre-k programs. This initiative is a collaborative effort between our local Phi Kappa Phi chapter, the "Mayors' Read Every Book" program, and our local Literacy Alliance. Funding for this partnership endeavor is provided by the Literacy Grant.
2007 Literacy Grant Winners
- Cynthia Fletcher, Iowa State University
“Baby Talk: Increasing Early Language and Literacy in Young Children” - Phi Kappa Phi funds will support Baby Talk, a research-based approach to fostering early literacy. Phi Kappa Phi funds will purchase 833 board books for distribution to children up to age five through pediatricians. The books will be distributed at well-child checkups, and students and faculty will serve as volunteer readers. - Janet McCoy, Morehead State University
“Let's FLIP with PACT: Family Learning Interactive Program and Parent and Child Together” – Morehead State University students will plan two public relations campaigns for the Adult Learning Center as part of a service-learning course. Press kits will be distributed to local media and promotional kits will be distributed to children enrolled in the county’s preschool program. Each child will also receive a book to encourage reading. The campaigns’ purposes are to recruit clients for the Adult Learning Center to improve the adults’ lives and the lives of their children. - Misty Clifton, Southeast Missouri State University
“Born to Read” - The Born to Read program promotes early literacy through distribution of books to newborns at an area hospital. Phi Kappa Phi members, university administrators, and students hold special events to promote the program and prepare books for distribution by including a Phi Kappa Phi book plate and letter about early reading with babies. - Valerie Gribben, University of Alabama at Birmingham
“Healing Words” – In partnership with Healing Words (a volunteer organization that reads to hospital patients) Phi Kappa Phi volunteers will read to patients at Children’s Hospital, Children’s’ Harbor, UAB Hospital and the Balm of Gilead (hospice) at Cooper Green Mercy Hospital as well as at local nursing homes through Ruth and Naomi Senior Outreach. Funds will be used to purchase new books with Phi Kappa Phi book plates placed inside the covers. - Kathy Richards, Lock Haven University
“Student Library Ownership” – Phi Kappa Phi Chapter 179 will take every fourth grader (approximately 100) from a local elementary school to a bookstore to choose a developmentally appropriate book that they would like to see added to the library collection in their school. Phi Kappa Phi will then purchase the book and put book plates in them identifying the student who chose the book as well as the Phi Kappa Phi name and logo. Each student will then have a sense of ownership in the library collection. - Stephen Murabito, University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg
“Read for LIFElong Learning” – This project with provide books for Phi Kappa Phi volunteers to tutor local elementary school students. The tutors work with 65 to 90 students in grades 2 through 5 at a local at-risk elementary school. Tutors will write about their experience for college credit. - Laura O'Hara, Ball State University
"Motivating Our Minds More: Enhancing Technological Literacy" – In partnership with Motivating Our Minds (MOMS), a community-based not-for-profit organization designed to provide after-school and summer learning programs for underprivileged students grades 1-8, Phi Kappa Phi will purchase thirteen programs for the computer lab. Phi Kappa Phi volunteers will work with approximately 200 students to improve their content skills in reading, mathematics, social studies, language arts and culture. - Barbara Pickthorn, Cameron University
“Books 4 Kids” - Cameron University chapter of Phi Kappa Phi will provide “food for learning” through free books as a supplement to the “Food 4 Kids” project sponsored by the Regional Food Bank and area public schools. Phi Kappa Phi will provide 125 books per month to students in k-3 grades who are enrolled in the “Food 4 Kids” project. - Ernest Wong, United States Military Academy
“MathWORKS!” – In partnership with the Systems Engineering Department at the United States Military Academy, Chapter 204 members will conduct workshops at elementary, middle and high schools in order to demonstrate how basic math principles are applied to the solution of real-world problems. Funds will be used to purchase educational materials to enhance the instruction of math, science and engineering to excite students into seeing that math truly does work. - Nancy Harris, Elon University
“Partners in Learning” – Through an established partnership with the local housing authority, Elon’s Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi will provide educational literacy materials (reference and reading books, flash cards, educational videos, etc.) and tutors for After School programs that take place at two centers with 25-30 students. - Rinda Starr-Alsip, Oklahoma State University
“Stillwater Hispanic English Language Initiative ((SHELI)” - Stillwater Hispanic English Language Initiative strives to increase literacy and the love of learning among recent adult immigrants and migrants from Mexico and other parts of Latin America. Services provided by SHELI include English placement testing, instruction, academic advisement, community orientation and child care. - Danna Gibson, Columbus State University
“Kindergarten Readiness Partnership” - Members of Chapter 185 will form teams of volunteer readers to go to two of the county’s most at-risk elementary schools to read with children, engaging them in activities pertaining to the stories they have read. The students will be provided with their own books and activity materials to take home. Phi Kappa Phi members will keep a daily report on their child’s progress and will maintain a critical incidences log which will be used to compile a booklet that chronicles their volunteer experiences. Funds will be used to purchase books and supplies. - Burt Bargerstock, Michigan State University
“Literacy Development Through Book Sharing at Greenwood Elementary” –This project will provide emergent and pre-reading kindergarten students with books to read in class then take home to share with their parents. The books will be kept in the classroom so that, over time, many students will be able to utilize them as a resource. - Janet Gooch, Truman State University
“Project Read to Me” – Project Read to Me will provide emergent literacy materials and training for parents of children at risk for literacy delays and will establish a children’s book lending library for clients of the Truman State University Speech and Hearing Clinic. - Denise Adkins, Shippensburg University
“Sharing Stories and Building Relationships with Head Start Families” - Phi Kappa Phi funds will be used to purchase books to advance literacy by building the home libraries of 132 preschool children. All families meet the federal poverty guidelines and are already participating in Head-Start center-based or home-based programs. Students from Shippensburg University will host reading days at the head start sites to read aloud to the children and discuss the stories. - Judy Stiles, Missouri Southern State University
“Technology Training for Adult Learners” – In partnership with Joplin NALA Read Phi Kappa Phi members will act as tutors using resources (four donated computers) from Missouri Southern State University to provide technological instruction to adult literacy learners at Joplin NALA Read, local literacy council.