CINCINNATI – A Cincinnati nonprofit and one from Northern Kentucky have been selected to share $150,000 in a local literacy grant competition sponsored in part by the Scripps Howard Foundation and WCPO 9 On Your Side.
The Greater Cincinnati Foundation and Duke Energy Foundation also partnered in selecting and awarding the two finalists out of a field of 10 nonprofit applicants. The grants - for $100,000 and $50,000 - support emergent childhood literacy initiatives in impoverished neighborhoods in the Tri-State.
Announcing the two finalists
Brighton Center: Home Instruction for Parents of Pre-school Youngsters
Following the national Home Instruction for Parents of Pre-school Youngsters (HIPPY) home visitation program, Brighton Center works with at-risk families to ensure that their children are given the language and literacy skills needed to make their early school experiences successful.
Based in Northern Kentucky, Brighton Center empowers parents to become advocates in their children’s education and engages them in activities with their children to foster a lifelong commitment to education.
Cincinnati Early Learning Centers: Learning Together program
Learning Together is the Cincinnati Early Learning Centers’ mobile classroom that travels to impoverished areas in Hamilton County. It brings together children and their parents or other caregivers to learn about early childhood development.
Reading and the love of books is the program’s centerpiece. The nonprofit also assists families in accessing resources for health, housing and employment. The program can be adapted based on a family’s needs and neighborhood.
Importance of supporting literacy efforts
The grants will fund programs that teach parents to foster their children’s language skills from birth through preschool. In their first three years, children begin learning concepts that will aid them in learning to read. During this time, it’s important for children to begin developing vocabulary.
Parents can foster emergent literacy by reading books to their children, talking to children, teaching them songs and engaging in other activities to prepare them to read and write.
Announcement of awards
The top winning organization - and recipient of a $100,000 grant - will be announced during the Scripps Howard Awards, the prestigious annual journalism recognition program presented by Scripps Howard Foundation. The show will take place at Memorial Hall on April 19.
The other finalist will receive a $50,000 grant to support its literacy programs.
WCPO 9 On Your Side will livestream the Scripps Howard Awards show on its website, WCPO.com, April 19 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. ET.
How finalists were chosen
Interested nonprofits submitted letters of intent in January. The funders reviewed those forms and narrowed the field to 10. In March, five semifinalists were announced. After conducting site visits, the funders selected the two finalists.
READ more about the Scripps Howard Foundation and how to apply for grants.
About The Scripps Howard Foundation
Dedicated to excellence in journalism, the Scripps Howard Foundation educates, empowers and honors extraordinary journalists who illuminate community issues, and partners with impactful organizations to drive change and improve lives. As the philanthropic arm of The E.W. Scripps Company, the Foundation is a leader in industry efforts in journalism education, scholarships, internships, minority recruitment and development, literacy and First Amendment causes. With a special commitment to the regions where Scripps does business, the Foundation helps build thriving communities.
About Scripps
The E.W. Scripps Company (NYSE: SSP) serves audiences and businesses through a growing portfolio of local and national media brands. With 33 television stations, Scripps is one of the nation’s largest independent TV station owners. Scripps runs an expanding collection of national journalism and content businesses, including Newsy, the next-generation national news network; podcast industry leader Midroll Media; and fast-growing national broadcast networks Bounce, Grit, Escape and Laff. Scripps produces original programming including “Pickler & Ben,” runs an award-winning investigative reporting newsroom in Washington, D.C., and is the longtime steward of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Founded in 1878, Scripps has held for decades to the motto, “Give light and the people will find their own way.”
