It was a festive day at Brooklyn’s P.S. 299 Thomas Warren Field School. The kids and their parents were treated to a day of fun and learning, courtesy of Target Corp. and the Heart of America Foundation. The party was a celebration of the unveiling of the makeover of the school’s library and a commissioned mural, memorializing the city’s heroes — New York servicemen and women.
“The Heart of America Foundation celebrates volunteerism and literacy. We partnered with Target to not only celebrate literacy and reading but to transform library spaces across the country. We are excited to be in Brooklyn,” explains Angie Halamandaris, the founder and president of The Heart of America Foundation. “This is truly a celebration for this amazing school. Over 150 Target team members are embracing this school, giving out seven brand new books to every single child in this school and to their siblings.”
The remodeled library is complete with 2,000 new books, furniture, eco-friendly design elements, new technology (iPads and computers) and carpet.
Target is renovating a total of 42 elementary school libraries all across America. This bookish jamboree, which was held in the Bushwick community, is part of Target School Library Makeover season, which is in line with the company’s commitment to help ensure U.S. children will read more proficiently by the end of the third grade.
“We are really excited to be kicking off the Target School Library Makeover season. It’s part of our commitment to give 5 percent of our income to the communities where we do business, which equals more than $3 million dollars every single year, including the time and talent of our team members who roll up their sleeves to create a sea of red to makeover these libraries in a really special way,” shares Laysha Ward, president of Community Relations for Target.
Target is on track to reach a total of $1 billion in giving to education, with a special focus on reading, by the end of 2015.
“This was fabulous ribbon-cutting ceremony for our new library. We are excited [about] the donations. Our children are going to truly love reading books now,” adds an overjoyed Wilma Kirk, principal of Thomas Warren Field School P.S. 299.
–yvette caslin
