Foellinger Foundation Announces $1M Signature Grant to Allen County Public Library Summer Learning Program

Foellinger Foundation announces that it has awarded Allen County Public Library Foundation a grant in the amount of $1,020,000 for three-year support of the Summer Learning Signature Grant Program, covering 2021–2023. This brings the Foundation’s total investment in the program to $5.7M since 1994.

View the video press conference here.

The research-based Summer Learning Program is offered at all library branches in Allen County. Over the years, the program has grown in popularity and serves over 10,000 youth each summer.

This program helps maintain academic skills for young people who are most at risk, preventing the “summer slide.” In the coming years, the Library plans to continue to expand its offerings to children and youth who participate in the free summer lunch program by encouraging them to explore reading at the library branch located nearest to their home.

Note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s program has taken on a virtual format, with curbside services at the branch locations.

“Our Signature Grants are named such because they provide necessary funding for programs that perfectly align with our mission—and create overwhelmingly positive results.

We’re proud to have now invested more than five-and-a-half million dollars in the ACPL’s Summer Learning Program,” said Cheryl Taylor, President, Foellinger Foundation.

Learn more at Foellinger Foundation’s website (foellinger.org) or Allen County Public Library’s site (acpl.beanstack.org/reader365).