A local foundation has celebrated its 30th anniversary the same way it marked the previous 29 - by handing out grants for community projects. The latest grants from the Doris and Victor Day Foundation total more than 700,000 dollars, to more than 70 non-profits in the Quad Cities Area.
Executive director Dave Geenen says for the 8th year in a row, the largest grant is going to the Summer Enrichment Initiative.
"Children who don't read during the summer can lose up to two months of learning by the time they return to school in the fall. This is especially true for minority and low income children."
The initiative is a joint effort of school districts, cities, the King Center, YMCA, and the Boys and Girls Club. It started in 2010, and this summer more than 500 children will participate.
"After tests we've done with our students each year, the majority of the students are maintaining and gaining reading ability, and very few are losing any reading ability from spring to the fall."
Other Day Foundation grants will benefit Quad Cities Interfaith, emergency assistance, and the Spring Forward Learning Center.
Since it was established 30 years ago, the Doris and Victor Day Foundation has handed out more than 21 million dollars.
