Team Member Involvement
Gompers Elementary Unveils All-New Library to Students and Local Community
Target Volunteers Bring Gift of New Books, Technology and Furniture to School
MINNEAPOLIS (September 26, 2008) – Today students, families and staff from Gompers Elementary, along with The Heart of America Foundation® and Target Volunteers, will celebrate the unveiling of a newly-renovated library. As part of the Target Volunteers school library makeovers, Gompers received a complete transformation this summer, including thousands of new books, technology, paint, lighting, customized wall art murals and reading corners. More than 1,000 students, school staff, community members and volunteers will attend today’s celebration. Every student will also walk away with five new books to add to their own at-home reading collection.
Twenty-three schools across the country, including Gompers Elementary, were awarded a library makeover. The school selection was based on percentage of low-income children and overall need for library improvement. The unveilings will occur throughout the months of September and October.
The school library makeovers were led by local Target Volunteers, who contributed their time and talent to the projects. In addition, the Target Property Development team provided specialized business knowledge through a variety of unique pro bono services, which included leveraging their design, construction and project management expertise to help with the significant updates to the libraries. The volunteer initiative builds on the company’s commitment to volunteerism and education.
"We are proud that so many of our team members in Philadelphia got involved to volunteer time directly to their hometown school library," said Laysha Ward, president, community relations, Target. "We know that education is a top priority for our guests and are committed to programs, like our Target Volunteers library project, that focus on supporting local schools and early childhood reading."
"Thanks to Target and The Heart of America Foundation, our school library is now a fun and engaging place to learn for our students," said Phil DeLuca, principal of Gompers Elementary School. "We’re honored to have been chosen for this project, and know our students are truly looking forward to utilizing the new technology and books in this beautiful space."
"Through our partnership with Target, we’re helping bring the gift of books to schools across the country," said Angie Halamandaris, president, The Heart of America Foundation. "Now the heart of this school, the library, is a vibrant center of reading that will truly make a difference in the lives of students."
In support of this effort, Target and The Heart of America Foundation teamed up with general contractor, Irwin & Leighton, Inc., as well as Blasz Construction, LLC., Holland Power & Light, LLC., Buttonwood Company, Inc., Wargo Floors Inc., Fatboy, GrafixShoppe, Smith Systems,IdeaPaint.,TK – Products, Greenstar, Tandus, InterfaceFlor Commercial, Design Within Reach Minneapolis Studio, Kidscarpet.com, and Maharam. All helped make the project possible through donations and/or discounted pricing of services and supplies.
About Target
Minneapolis-based Target serves guests at 1,648 stores in 47 states nationwide by delivering today’s best retail trends at affordable prices. Target is committed to providing guests with great design through innovative products,in-store experiences and community partnerships. Whether visiting a Target store or shopping online at Target.com, guests enjoy a fun and convenient shopping experience with access to thousands of unique and highly differentiated items. Since 1946, the corporation has invested five percent of itsincomein the communities it serves. Target (NYSE:TGT) gives more than $3 million a week to its local communities through grants and special programs. Target partners with nonprofit organizations, guests and team members to help meet community needs.
About The Heart of America Foundation
Founded by the leaders of this country’s most well-known charitable endeavors, The Heart of America Foundation has worked for over ten years to give children the tools they need to read, succeed and make a difference. Their programs focus on literacy and community service, utilizing a series of connected programs to accomplish this mission: to teach the values at the heart of America and to teach people, particularly children, that they help themselves when they help others. The Heart of America Foundation identifies and rewards inspirational young people and adults, and sends them into schools across the country - public, private, rural and inner-city - to inspire others to emulate their good work and commit to public service.
MINNEAPOLIS (September 26, 2008) – Today students, families and staff from Gompers Elementary, along with The Heart of America Foundation® and Target Volunteers, will celebrate the unveiling of a newly-renovated library. As part of the Target Volunteers school library makeovers, Gompers received a complete transformation this summer, including thousands of new books, technology, paint, lighting, customized wall art murals and reading corners. More than 1,000 students, school staff, community members and volunteers will attend today’s celebration. Every student will also walk away with five new books to add to their own at-home reading collection.
Twenty-three schools across the country, including Gompers Elementary, were awarded a library makeover. The school selection was based on percentage of low-income children and overall need for library improvement. The unveilings will occur throughout the months of September and October.
The school library makeovers were led by local Target Volunteers, who contributed their time and talent to the projects. In addition, the Target Property Development team provided specialized business knowledge through a variety of unique pro bono services, which included leveraging their design, construction and project management expertise to help with the significant updates to the libraries. The volunteer initiative builds on the company’s commitment to volunteerism and education.
"We are proud that so many of our team members in Philadelphia got involved to volunteer time directly to their hometown school library," said Laysha Ward, president, community relations, Target. "We know that education is a top priority for our guests and are committed to programs, like our Target Volunteers library project, that focus on supporting local schools and early childhood reading."
"Thanks to Target and The Heart of America Foundation, our school library is now a fun and engaging place to learn for our students," said Phil DeLuca, principal of Gompers Elementary School. "We’re honored to have been chosen for this project, and know our students are truly looking forward to utilizing the new technology and books in this beautiful space."
"Through our partnership with Target, we’re helping bring the gift of books to schools across the country," said Angie Halamandaris, president, The Heart of America Foundation. "Now the heart of this school, the library, is a vibrant center of reading that will truly make a difference in the lives of students."
In support of this effort, Target and The Heart of America Foundation teamed up with general contractor, Irwin & Leighton, Inc., as well as Blasz Construction, LLC., Holland Power & Light, LLC., Buttonwood Company, Inc., Wargo Floors Inc., Fatboy, GrafixShoppe, Smith Systems,IdeaPaint.,TK – Products, Greenstar, Tandus, InterfaceFlor Commercial, Design Within Reach Minneapolis Studio, Kidscarpet.com, and Maharam. All helped make the project possible through donations and/or discounted pricing of services and supplies.
About Target
Minneapolis-based Target serves guests at 1,648 stores in 47 states nationwide by delivering today’s best retail trends at affordable prices. Target is committed to providing guests with great design through innovative products,in-store experiences and community partnerships. Whether visiting a Target store or shopping online at Target.com, guests enjoy a fun and convenient shopping experience with access to thousands of unique and highly differentiated items. Since 1946, the corporation has invested five percent of itsincomein the communities it serves. Target (NYSE:TGT) gives more than $3 million a week to its local communities through grants and special programs. Target partners with nonprofit organizations, guests and team members to help meet community needs.
About The Heart of America Foundation
Founded by the leaders of this country’s most well-known charitable endeavors, The Heart of America Foundation has worked for over ten years to give children the tools they need to read, succeed and make a difference. Their programs focus on literacy and community service, utilizing a series of connected programs to accomplish this mission: to teach the values at the heart of America and to teach people, particularly children, that they help themselves when they help others. The Heart of America Foundation identifies and rewards inspirational young people and adults, and sends them into schools across the country - public, private, rural and inner-city - to inspire others to emulate their good work and commit to public service.