Special Project Recipients
Special Correspondence Project / Bertha’s Buddies
Bertha’s Buddies is a special correspondence project sponsored by the Literacy Legacy Fund of Michigan. The intent is to bring joy into the lives of adults who may not receive an abundance of personal mail during the year.
This project, launched by the Board in February 2021, was initiated in memory of Bertha Wiseman, mother of the LLF Michigan founder. Bertha loved to send cards to those who were often alone and she enjoyed receiving cards as well.
The initial caring correspondence included an individual valentine tucked into a personally-addressed note card to each recipient for Valentine’s Day and a Snoopy St. Patrick’s Day sticker tucked into a card a month later to celebrate that special day. Cards were sent to celebrate July 4th and Thanksgiving. A total of 120 cards were mailed during 2021 including two mailings to Marquette County law enforcement agencies twice during the year. Each card notes the person recommending the recipient to receive a card.
So far in 2022, 44 cards have been sent for Valentine’s Day and again for Spring.
Recipients have called and written to express their gratitude. Comments include: “You cared about me as a person – wow!”, “I loved getting the Valentine like I did as a kid.”, “This was so special I had to tell you how much it meant to my Dad.”
- LLF Michigan can be contacted by using the contact us option on the about page.
- Please include suggested recipients’ names, addresses, and the person recommending the potential recipient.
- A telephone number for the recommending person must be included. The phone number is for LLF Michigan’s use only and will not be shared.
- The recommending person will be noted on the card to inform the recipient that we are not soliciting donations or using list serves.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library – AuTrain-Onota Public Schools
(First Program Sponsored by LLF Michigan As an Affiliate)
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library provides a child through his/her 5th birthday with an age-appropriate book in the mail monthly. These are high-quality books that are chosen by experts in the education and writing field and are based on the child’s age. The children served by the AuTrain-Onota Public Schools enrolled in the DPIL will receive their first book in the June 2020 mailing.
According to Bryan Tyner, District Administrator, “AuTrain-Onota Public School administrators and school board members are excited about our new partnership with the Literacy Legacy Fund of Michigan and The Dolly Parton Foundation! Together we will help promote early literacy in our rural community…”
LLF Michigan is the “local champion” and affiliate supporting the book and mailing costs monthly.
Pictured below, on the right, are Bryan Tyner, District Administrator, Nancy Seminoff, LLF Michigan Board Chair, Phyllis Aurich, Secretary and local children at the February kickoff at AuTrain-Onota Public Schools. The first photo shows a mother registering her children.
Upper Peninsula Animal Welfare Shelter (UPAWS) Special Project
LLF Michigan provided a Special Project Award to the Upper Peninsula Animal Welfare Shelter (UPAWS) Marquette to assist with inintiating the Reading Buddies “Read to Your Shelter Pet Program” as part of their developing “Kids’ Clubs.” This program pairs children with pets and books. Reading to the pets fosters socialization for the pet while increasing the child’s reading skills. UPAWS objectives through this program include promoting youth involvement at UPAWS and improving the quality of life and behavior of adoptable animals.
UPAWS first received grant funding to implement a pilot program in early 2019 for the Read to Your Shelter Pet Program. LLF Michigan presented additional funding at the August 29th Ice Cream Social & Community Event to assist with the program in 2019 & 2020. Due to unforeseen circumstances and the 2020 pandemic implementation of the Read to Your Shelter Pet Program has been delayed and is now moving to a virtual experience.
Read to Your Shelter Pet Ice Cream Social
Thank you all attendees, volunteers and sponsors Econo Foods and Globe Printing. In addition to receiving ice cream, participants viewed a movie, colored items at Maddie’s Tail Wag activity station, visited the Little Free Library and received Read to Your Shelter Pet program information. Each child took home a free book. Pictured below are the books gifted to each child and LLF Michigan’s presentation check.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore hosts a Storybook Hike program
LLF Michigan is teaming up with Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore to host a Storybook Hike program with children’s author Lori Taylor at Munising Falls on July 26, 2018 at 2 pm. The park’s Education Specialist, Melissa O’Donnell, coordinated the visit that was attended by the Munising day camp participants and visitors to the falls.
Join in the fun for a Story Hike Adventure!
To see more of Lori Taylor’s work, books and learn more about Lori please visit her website.
LLF Michigan announces their first Legacy Grant
After grant funding U. P. Children’s Museum for two years of successful Third Thursday Literacy Nights LLF Michigan awarded its first Legacy Grant to the U.P. Children’s Museum through 2018.
Lori Taylor Artist-in-residence Program
Artist-in-residence programs exist to invite artists and all manner of creative people for a time and space away from their usual environment and obligations. In 2015 LLF Michigan entered into an Artist-in-residence program with Lori Taylor. Lori is a “pond stomping, trail stumbling artist, author, and illustrator in hiking boots. I rehabilitate kids and release them into the wild outdoors by encouraging them to read, write, and draw in nature to find their story. (direct quote from Lori’s website)” While “in-residence” Lori created a wonderful, artist pop-up book for LLF Michigan, which was inspired by her Artist-in-Residence rustic surroundings, then later displayed and sold at the Michigan Reading Annual Conference in 2016. During the residency program Lori Taylor shared her experience with the public through demonstrations or talks. Pictured below are Lori with her book presenting at NMU and the book she created for us.
