The Laura Bush Foundation Awards Over $777,000 In Grants To School Libraries
Grants Will Help 160 School Libraries Buy Books

June 2, 2005 – Today,  Laura Bush announced the 160 recipients of over $777,000 in grants from the Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries. This brings the total awards from the Foundation to over $2 million. The announcement was made from one of the schools, Austin Community Academy High School, in Chicago, Illinois. Representatives from the three other Chicago awardees, Ryerson Elementary School, Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences and DuSable High School, were also present. Awardees were selected from more than 1,000 applications. The awards are based primarily on need and schools will use the funds to create or expand their book collections. 

“Every student benefits from having access to more books,” said Mrs. Bush. “They're a source of entertainment, a source of knowledge, a source of inspiration, and they're important to academic success. I hope the books purchased with these grants will bring students as much joy as books have always brought to me.” 

Awardees will receive grants of up to $5,000. Of these recipient schools: 

• 43 States are represented, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
• Eight are alternative schools, one is a charter school, five are private schools
• One hundred and nine schools include elementary grades 
• Thirty-nine include middle schools 
• Thirty-eight include high schools 

The grant application process is administered by the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region with guidance from The Laura Bush Foundation Advisory Committee. This Advisory Committee consists of national experts in children’s literature, school libraries and education. The grants are funded through generous donations from individuals, corporations and foundations. 

The mission of The Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries is to support the education of our nation's children by providing funds to update, extend, and diversify the book and print collections of America's school libraries. The Laura Bush Foundation was officially launched on June 4, 2002, during the White House Conference on School Libraries. Grants from The Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries, a fund of the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region, are designed to help school libraries across the nation create or enhance their book collections. 

For more information please contact Beth Ann Bryan, Executive Director, at 202 955 5890.