The Free Library of Philadelphia has received the largest corporation grant in its history from Malvern’s Vanguard, writes Erin Arvedlund for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The $3 million grant from the Vanguard Strong Start for Kids Program aims to improve early childhood literacy and language development in low-income communities over a three-year period by partnering with local child care sites.

“This initiative will provide intensive professional development to child care staff, create literacy spaces in classrooms, and engage families,” the library stated in a press release. “Neighborhood libraries will act as hubs for the participating child care sites in their communities.”

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The program will work in needy communities and target child care sites that are under-resourced.

Founded three years ago, the Vanguard Strong Start for Kids Program provides funding and volunteer hours in Pennsylvania, Arizona, and North Carolina, three of Vanguard’s locations.

The program will start with 12 sites this year, with the goal to expand to 44 sites over three years. Each site will be matched with a neighborhood library.

Read more about the grant in the Philadelphia Inquirer here, and check out previous VISTA Today coverage of Vanguard here.

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