Education & Literacy

Promoting reading and lifelong learning is an issue that crosses all levels of our society. There is no better time than now to focus on becoming a fully literate and educated community.

The need to read has never been greater and there is momentum to build a reading and lifelong learning community. This is an ideal time to build on the literacy strengths of the community and at the same time strengthen the identified weaknesses. The Foundation emphasizes the importance of building mathematics and science skills. These skills have substantial beneficial effects in forming careers and improving the Memphis workforce.

The Foundation spearheads action to address these issues in the Mid South through funding a number of reading and education initiatives that develop vital tools for life as well as focus on the awareness and importance of accepting social responsibilities. To this end, the Foundation funded grants to:

• Initiate and nurture the development of the Mid South Reads Coalition.
• Promote communitywide reading events through the Memphis Public
• Library’s “Same Book, Same Time” program, through a series of book serials published in The Commercial Appeal, and through professional development seminars that prepare volunteers to initiate book clubs throughout the community.
• Provide funding to schools, to literacy provider agencies, and to Memphis
• Public Library for the purchase of books and appropriate learning materials
• Support the development of Memphis City Schools Parent Learning Academy.