The Putnam City Public Schools Foundation is proud to announce a Literacy is for Everyone (LIFE) grant in the amount of $7,000 has been awarded by the Oklahoma City Community Foundation to fund 233 parenting tool kits for the Early Birds parenting program in the Putnam City School District.

The Oklahoma City Community Foundation, the metropolitan area's non-profit public charity, was founded in 1969 to work with individuals to meet the charitable needs of the community through the development and administration of permanent endowment funds for non-profit organizations, scholarships and other charities.  Through its Community Program Grants, the Oklahoma City Community Foundation funds, initiates and leads programs that benefit the community in the area of arts, education, health and human services, beautification and community development.

Caroline Gist, Putnam City Schools Foundation Executive Director, says she is pleased to accept this grant on behalf of the Putnam City District Early Birds program. 

The Early Birds program gives hands-on help to parents of children ages birth to five in our district.  Parents learn what to teach their infants, toddlers and young children at home to better prepare them for kindergarten and a lifetime of learning beyond.  In its fourth year, the Early Birds program expects to serve 1,624 families, a tremendous growth from its first year of 502 families in attendance. 

Caroline states, "The Oklahoma City Community Foundation LIFE grant will enable us to purchase parenting tool kits for over 200 families.  These tool kits are given to the families attending the Early Birds sessions.  Parents will then be able to provide their future Putnam City district students with constructive, educational play while preparing them for school.  We thank the Oklahoma City Community Foundation for helping the Putnam City Foundation and the Early Birds program provide free classes and educational tools to our district families."