JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Humane Society received a $45,000 donation Thursday from The Players to help fund its educational outreach program, which works with various organizations to promote literacy among young at-risk children.
The donation also paid for a new Sports Utility Vehicle that was immediately put to use in the Durkeeville neighborhood to assist a program that works with at-risk children who come from low-income households.
“It was really important for us to fund a program like this that would be able to provide reading experiences in so many schools for young people and give them the tools they need to succeed as it relates to being comfortable with reading,” Emily Bellock, The Players community outreach senior director said.
JHS Chief Executive Officer, Denise Deisler, loaded up new books into the brand new vehicle to take to the MaliVai Washington Youth program.
“Studies say just having access to reading materials will improve their reading, so it’s important to us that we prove to them that access to books,” Deisler said.
When the books arrived at the destination, along with special guest Dudley, the human society’s educational dog, 6 and 7-year-old children could pick out two new books featuring either dogs or cats.
The kids enjoyed it — and enjoyed reading to Dudley, who proved to be an easy listener.