On April 23, 2015, KOREH L.A. celebrated the donation of 1,200 books to Walgrove Avenue Elementary School’s library and our 19th annual library restocking in partnership with Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. Since 2005, Toyota has partnered with us through our Book Initiative to restock the empty shelves of LAUSD’s neediest school libraries, helping us to put books directly into the hands of students.
For the Library Dedication Ceremony, we were joined by Walgrove Elementary School staff and students, Los Angeles Unified School District Board Member Steve Zimmer, as well as representatives from the office of Assemblywoman Autumn R. Burke, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., LAUSD Integrated Library & Textbook Support Services, and Mackin Educational Resources.
Walgrove Avenue Principal Olivia Adams
Principal Adams explained how excited the students and staff are about the new books, exclaiming, “the word of the day is ‘yay!’” She remarked that the students are astounded as they enter the newly restocked library because “the shelves are twice as full as they once were.”
Michael Rouse, the Toyota Vice President of Diversity, Philanthropy and Community Affairs and the President of the Toyota U.S.A. Foundation, spoke about his own ties to the area—he grew up down the road from Walgrove—and, speaking directly to the students, imparted his wish that reading these books will spark the “beginning of your own dreams.”
Catherine Schneider, Senior Vice President of External Affairs & Community Engagement at Jewish Federation Los Angeles (left) and Michael Rouse, Vice President of Diversity, Philanthropy & Community Affairs and President of Toyota U.S.A. Foundation (right).
Odysseus Bostick, Senior Field Representative for California State Assemblywoman Autumn R. Burke, presented a Certificate of Recognition to both KOREH L.A. and Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., in honor of our investment in providing our students with the tools to live a life of joyful reading.
Odysseus Bostick (left) and Michael Rouse (right)
Odysseus Bostick (left) and Catherine Schneider (right)
Signs of Walgrove student appreciation were plentiful. Attendees of the ceremony were greeted by the shelves of beautiful new books and decorations created by the students! Each of the books donated by Toyota and The Jewish Federation contain a sticker that identifies it, and we were told that students have been eagerly searching for books that contain these stickers.
One student read from a “Thank You” book while others performed a song from the musical, “Seussical.” The reading and performance were a perfect addition to a celebration of books!
Steve Zimmer, the Los Angeles Unified District 4 School Board Member, discussed the importance of community. He remarked that KOREH L.A. is one of his favorite programs in Los Angeles because it is about the joy of reading as well as forming a connection between volunteers and students. He urged the Walgrove students to remember that we have to work together to ensure that every school can have a library, and reminded them that, “When you see something that should be, it can be, when you work together.”
It was an honor to hear from and celebrate with the community members, school staff, LAUSD representatives, and all the generous contributors who helped us restock this library. The dedication ceremony had an undercurrent of joy and celebration, and our KOREH L.A. Team left Walgrove with big smiles. It was our pleasure to partner with Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. in this endeavor and we hope the students and staff at Walgrove Elementary enjoy the new books!
For more information on KOREH L.A.’s Book Initiative program, you can learn more here or contact us at Literacy@JewishL.A.org.
Originally published on KOREH L.A.’s blog
