We love it when a company does good. Right before Hurricane Sandy hit, Target teamed up with designer Todd Oldham, and the Heart of America Foundation to renovate the library and open a Food Pantry at P.S. 21 in Staten Island. Luckily it wasn’t damaged during the super storm — and we’re sharing this wonderful deed with you.
Target has a school library makeover program that will give more than $12 million to support education and redoing 32 in-need elementary schools across the country. Also, Target will be giving $15,000 in reading grants to 5 NYC schools (that already received the library makeovers). (Read More after the Jump).
P.S. 21 Library Makeover
Kid Made Modern creator and designer, Todd Oldham helped to redesign the space by incorporating his signature style throughout the library. During the library unveiling (which I had been unable to attend) he was there to help celebrate the new space and did an art activity with the students at P.S. 21.
“Reading has been a true passion of mine from a very young age, and the library was always a special place for me to go,” said Todd Oldham, creator and designer of Kid Made Modern, kid art supplies and kits with a modern twist. “I am happy to have teamed up with Target to create a space that cultivates imagination and nurtures a love of reading. With this new library, I want kids to learn something in a space they can enjoy.”
The new library at P.S. 21 is one of two schools in the New York City-area receiving a renovated library (the other school is P.S. 360 in the Bronx). Each library will feature 2,000 new books, furniture, carpet and shelves, and a complete tech upgrade, including new iPads. Each student also gets to take home seven new books after the unveiling. Well done, Target!
“The new library and food pantry are amazing gifts for our school and our students,” said Gina Moreno, principal, P.S. 21.
In an effort to combat hunger and its impact on learning, the Target Meals for Minds food pantry will provide monthly distributions of fresh produce and staple foods to students and their families. The food pantry is made possible through a partnership with the Food Bank for New York City.
“Since 2007, our partnership with the Target School Library Makeover program has helped to turn more than 100 dilapidated libraries into vibrant centers of learning,” said Angie Halamandaris, president and co-founder of The Heart of America Foundation. “This year, we are proud to continue our partnership with Target. By revitalizing 32 school libraries across the country, we are helping to create new spaces that inspire students, parents and community members to love reading.”
Through programs like this, Target is on track to give $1 billion for education, with a focus on reading, by the end of 2015. And we say Bravo!
In return for posting this information, Target gifted a Kid Made Modern Gift Bag, Todd Oldham’s New Kid Made Modern Book, and a gift card to a needy family on Staten Island.
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