Boston, MA, September 8, 2014 – The Brown Rudnick Charitable Foundation Corp., a nonprofit, tax-exempt entity established by attorneys from the law firm of Brown Rudnick LLP, awarded a Community Grant to Hartford Public Library to support the creation of a Creative Play Center at each of ten library locations throughout Hartford to address the emerging and early literacy needs of children from birth to age five. Specifically, the grant will be used to purchase standard early learning materials and the development of story times that will model the proper use of materials for parents/caregivers.
“Play-based experiences help children build foundations for later learning as children pose problems, develop solutions, and increase their understanding of themselves, other people and the world around them,” said Hartford Public Library CEO Matt Poland. “As young children learn in a fun and interesting environment with the support of caring adults, they will enhance their growth and development as they add new understandings to their background knowledge. The early literacy educational resources purchased with grant dollars will provide for self-directed play, parent/child interaction and librarian instruction.”
Al Wallis, Executive Director of the Brown Rudnick Charitable Foundation Corp., commented, “The formation of the Creative Play Centers aligns with the Foundation’s mission by improving the early educational needs of Hartford’s inner city children and supporting families unable to provide these resources at home. We are delighted award a grant to Hartford Public Library.”
This is the second Community Grant awarded to Hartford Public Library. In 2012, the Brown Rudnick Charitable Foundation provided a grant to purchase materials — such as word puzzles, hand puppets, letter blocks, books, and more — for a Literacy “Tub” Program. This program afforded children throughout Hartford equitable access to materials that aid in school readiness and grade level reading.
Created to support front-line educators who often do not have a voice in funding decisions, the Community Grants subsidize small, concrete projects, which will improve inner-city education within Boston, Hartford, London, Orange County, Providence, New York, or Washington DC within the coming year. The Foundation will generally consider grant applications monthly and award grants in an amount totaling not more than $2000 in any one month. The grant applications and an explanation of the program can be found here.
About Brown Rudnick LLP
Brown Rudnick is an AmLaw 200 firm with offices in the United States and Europe. With relentless focus on the client’s objectives, the Firm represents clients from around the world in high stakes litigation and business transactions. Our clients include public and private corporations, multinational Fortune 100 businesses and start-up enterprises. We also represent investors, as well as official and ad hoc creditors committees in today’s largest corporate restructurings, both domestically and abroad. The Brown Rudnick Center for the Public interest is an innovative model combining the Firm’s pro bono, charitable giving and community volunteer efforts. For more information, please visit www.brownrudnick.com.
BROWN RUDNICK LAW FIRM
