Cressey Gift

November 20, 2007

The Cressey Family Charitable Trust has announced its first distribution, including $10,000 for literacy in District 4J.  This makes possible the following grants which add to schools’ literacy efforts (and provide books for practice!).

Reading Stations at Adams Elementary, $500.  Struggling readers can listen to, and read along with, books recorded on CDs.

Culturally Relevant Literature at Arts & Technology Academy, $480.  Students enjoy books that have people like themselves.

Reading Rocks at Awbrey Park Elementary, $500.  Fifteen students at a time take home reading lessons on iPods.

Kiddie Literature at Cesar Chavez Elementary, $250.  Picking a book to read and keep is now an option for all students.

Explore New Paths Through Reading at Coburg Elementary, $500.  New books are published every year, and students are wanting to read them.

Franklin Spellers at Crest Drive Elementary, $270.  Electronic dictionaries help students expand their expressive language.

Life Readers, Life Learners at IDEAS, $500.  First you learn to read, and then you read to learn.  Engaging textbooks help the transition.

Home to School Literacy at McCornack Elementary, $2,000.  Four nights a week, struggling readers use iPods to review lessons.

Online with Literacy at McCornack Elementary, $500.  Existing reading books get wider utility when matched with the publisher’s online instruction.

Library at Opportunity Center, $500.  A wider selection of books increases elective reading, so teachers ask to buy more.

Library Books at River Road Elementary, $500.  Existing reading and language programs are enriched by new books.

Therapeutic Library at River Road Elementary, $500.  A person can read to learn more about friendship, responsibility, grief and loss, students discover.

Reading Tomo (“Buddy”) at Yujin Gakuen Elementary, $2,000.  Reading, writing and speaking Japanese comes easier through repeated hearing at school and at home.

The Cressey Trust is a legacy of one of Eugene's favorite stores from an earlier time, Cresseys' Booksellers and Stationers.  It was located on Willamette Street just north of Broadway.

Photo Courtesy Lane County Historical Museum