Pennsylvania’s 29 district library center organizations can compete for $150,000 in grants from the Verizon Foundation to support literacy initiatives that incorporate Verizon Thinkfinity.org resources into the organizations’ programs.

The foundation will award grants of up to $15,000 each to district library center organizations that best use Thinkfinity.org resources to enhance existing programs, or launch new ones, for library patrons.  Thinkfinity.org offers free, online educational and literacy resources for teachers, parents and students provided in partnership with leading educational and literacy organizations.

This comes as a great benefit to the city of Philadelphia, especially with the economic strains affecting Philadelphians with the recent budget cuts.  One proposed idea included the closing of many public libraries.

To be eligible, grant applicants must be Pennsylvania nonprofit district library center organizations.  Proposals must be submitted online at the Verizon Foundation’s website at www.verizonfoundation.org/apply by Sept. 1.  Awardees will be announced during the Pennsylvania Library Association Conference in Lancaster in October.

Content for Verizon Thinkfinity is provided through a partnership between the Verizon Foundation and 11 of the nation’s leading organizations in the fields of education and literacy.

The Verizon Foundation supports the advancement of literacy and K-12 education through its free educational website, Verizon Thinkfinity (www.thinkfinity.org), and fosters awareness and prevention of domestic violence.

Through Verizon Volunteers, one of the nation’s largest employee volunteer programs, Verizon employees and retirees have volunteered more than 5 million hours of community service since 2000. For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizonfoundation.org