NAPLES — Books for Collier Kids (BCK), a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a steady stream of new books to children in low-income families throughout Collier County, was recently awarded a $19,500 grant from Community Trust Fund of The League Club to ensure at-risk children have books at home to read, share and cherish.

“We’re grateful for The League Club’s generous grant ensuring Books for Collier Kids is able to provide 860 students a new, high-quality, age- and curriculum appropriate book each month of the 2023-2024 school year, helping these children bond with their loved ones and build a personal library,” details Books Chair Sallie Williams.

The $19,500 translates to 8,600 new titles for distribution to 860 children in pre-K, kindergarten, first and second grades at three Collier County elementary schools. Currently, 64% of the School District’s students are economically disadvantaged, more than half speak a language other than English at home and 15% have limited English proficiency. Without access to books in the home, children are at higher risk for academic failure, delinquency, teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, unemployment, low productivity and welfare dependency.

The League Club is a 501(c)(3) organization of women in Southwest Florida strengthening communities through fellowship, education, volunteerism and philanthropy. The League Club is open to women who have been or still are active members of a Junior League, that is a member of the Association of Junior Leagues International.

Books for Collier Kids provides new books to children in-need, addressing one of the most important factors affecting literacy: access to books. Launched in 2005 as First Book-Collier County, BCK has distributed more than 1.6 million new, high-quality, age-appropriate and personalized books to pre-K, kindergarten, first- and second-grade students in-need to enhance their literacy development.

The all-volunteer charity partners with more than 20 local organizations, including the Collier County Public Schools, Friends of Foster Children Forever, Fun Time Early Childhood Academy, Habitat for Humanity of Collier County, Guadalupe Center, Grace Place for Children and Families and Christ Child Society of Naples.

For more information, please call Sallie Williams, Board Chair at 239-394-4062. To learn more about Books for Collier Kids, visit www.BooksforCollierKids.org.