The Estes Park Sunrise Rotary Club’s Plant a Book, Grow a Child program donated 430 books to 194 local elementary school students this year, after a last-minute infusion of funds.
Most of the program’s small business donors said they would not be able to participate this year due to a significant drop in summer business revenue, according to a news release from Scott Applegate, founder of the program and Bank of Estes Park president. After Applegate made a last-minute appeal, he said some long-term supporters stepped up to fund the program.
Ascent Title, Bright Christmas, the Estes Park Education Foundation, the Bank of Estes Park, members of the Estes Valley Board of Realtors and members of the Estes Valley Sunrise Rotary Club all helped to keep the program afloat this year, the release said.
Scott and Brandi Applegate started the program in 2016 and have given out 4,875 books to 2,052 local children, at a cost of $34,000, the release said. Estes Park Elementary School librarian Jen Maley coordinates and runs the program.
Scott Applegate said when he was growing up, an elementary school teacher or two gave him books as gifts. So he said he understands firsthand the look in the eyes of students who receive books from the program
“Reading at a young age has been proven over and over again to be one of the most important activities a young mind can engage in,” Scott Applegate said in the release.
The program costs about $5,200 per year to operate, and the Applegates are seeking donations. You can send donations to the EVSR Foundation—Plant a Book at: P.O. Box 376, Estes Park, Colo. 80517.
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