IDAHO FALLS LAMPSHADE AUCTION SUPPORTS LITERACY

The Idaho Falls Rotary Club launched a new fund raising effort for local literacy programs. With the help of area artists who turned lampshades into works of art that were auctioned off, $3,225 were raised in the first Lighting the Way to Literacy lampshade auction. 

 

The City of Idaho Falls provided a $1500 grant to cover event costs including lampshade and material purchases, marketing and advertising.  And the local Rotary Club contributed $500 to food and beverages for the auction event.  Lampshade art was auctioned off in both a silent auction and live auction venues.  Funds raised exceed expectations of the host club for the first year.  Plans are already under way to grow the event and continue with it on an annual basis with hopes of building sustainable funding into the program that provides annually a book for every family with an elementary school student enrolled in K-6.  The program encourages reading a chapter a night from the book at home with the family, participating in daily quizzes and discussions at school, and the potential to earn prizes to make reading fun and promote literacy.

 

In addition to the club's fund raising effort, a District Block Grant of $4,320 was used to purchase books for the Education Foundation literacy program.  Program partners include the District 91 Education Foundation, City of Idaho Falls, Idaho Falls Arts Council, Art Museum of Eastern Idaho and area artists.