Communities Foundation of Oklahoma (CFO) announced last week the grantees of the Oklahoma Initiative Fund Grant Cycle.

The Oklahoma Initiative Fund is a statewide grant-making initiative that seeks to provide support that will positively impact and strengthen rural communities across the state.

Among the approved applications was the one submitted by Sheila Redwine, Gilmour Elementary School reading specialist.

The grant money will fund Summer Lantern for KPS students.

“Summer Lantern is a summer school program that is designed to provide additional reading support to identified Gilmour students,” Redwine said.

“The goal of Summer Lantern is to improve students’ reading skills through a continuous flow of instruction from regular school to summer school back to school in the fall by keeping Gilmour’s lights on all summer.”

The program has two components, Redwine explained: morning reading support for students and evening family events.

“Students will attend summer school for eight weeks where they will participate in classroom lessons to include readers theater, hands-on projects and physical activities all based on the skills of reading,” she said.

During evening events, families will be invited to bring their lawn chairs and listen to community members while they read their favorite books.

At the end of the evening, students will take two books home to read together then exchange for new books at the next event.

Families will also receive a punch list of family reading activities to accomplish, such as read at the park, cook a food/snack mentioned in a book and read under the stars with a flashlight.

“Gilmour Elementary is extremely grateful for the funds received from the Communities Foundation in support of Summer Lantern,” Redwine continued. “Funds received from this grant will purchase reading materials and resources to be implemented in the summer program.”

All told the CFO grants were awarded to 501c3 organizations working in the areas of literacy and strengthening rural libraries; health and mental health services; and food insecurity.