AFE grant puts 1,000 books in the hands

of district students for 'The Big Read' in November

ALBANY, N.Y. (July 23, 2012) -- City School District of Albany students will benefit in a big way this fall from a “Big Read” grant that the National Endowment for the Arts has awarded to the Albany Fund for Education.

The $11,900 grant will support the purchase of 1,000 paperback copies of the acclaimed novel “The Things They Carried,” a Vietnam War collection by Tim O’Brien. The Albany Fund for Education was one of 78 organizations nationally to receive a total of $1 million to participate in The Big Read.

“We are so pleased to have this outstanding opportunity to support and promote literacy in Albany’s public schools,” said AFE President Onnolee Smith.

The Big Read is an initiative of the NEA designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. Managed by Arts Midwest, The Big Read provides communities nationwide with the opportunity to read, discuss, and celebrate one of 31 selections from U.S. and world literature.

The district will conduct its Big Read throughout November in collaboration with the Albany Public Library.

Published in 1990, “The Things They Carried” has been nominated for a Pulitzer Price and a Book Critics Circle Award.

The Big Read in November will begin with a kickoff event at The Palace on Nov. 1. The month will include panel discussions, lectures, public readings, film screenings, theatrical readings, exhibits and book discussions at locations throughout the community.

To read more about the AFE grant and Albany’s Big Read, check out the July 11 Times Union and visit the NEA website.

The mission of the City School District of Albany is to educate and nurture all students to be responsible citizens, critical thinkers and lifelong learners to successfully compete in the global community by providing an academically rigorous and safe environment in partnership with parents, students and the community. The district serves about 8,600 students in 15 elementary, middle and high schools. In addition to neighborhood schools, the district includes several magnet schools and programs, as well as other innovative academic opportunities for students, including four themed academies at Albany High School.