Last modified: Tuesday, December 29, 2009 11:48 PM EST

Lynn non-profit lands literacy grant

By Laura Paine / For The Item
LYNN - Healthy Directions, Inc. of Lynn recently partnered with Target in recognition of its efforts to
promote literacy.

The "I'm Me" Family Literacy Project will distribute literacy-based curriculum kits entitled "I'm Me,
I'm Special" to family childcare providers who work with Healthy Directions. In addition, the project
will provide a companion book to each of the approximately 175 children in care. The books, chosen in
conjunction with the "I'm Me, I'm Special" theme, are for the children to take home to read with their
families.

"We're very excited," said Ellion Lyons, education director at Healthy Directions. "We try to support
early literacy in any way that we can and this will help children connect what they're learning in day
care with books they can read at home with their families."

Books were selected for their appeal to children in each age group and for their multicultural content.
The hope is that reading these books will enhance skills and help foster a love of reading. This grant is
part of ongoing efforts by Target to strengthen families and communities throughout the country.

"At Target, our local grants are making a difference in the communities we serve," said Laysha Ward,
president of Community Relations for Target. "We're proud to partner with Healthy Directions as part
of our ongoing commitment to give back to the communities where our guests and team members live
and work."

Healthy Directions, Inc. is a not-for-profit, community service organization that was created in 1993 to
provide services to economically disadvantaged populations. Among its primary functions is
sponsoring a childcare food program for area childcare providers. Healthy Directions also provides
training and supervision to family childcare providers in a variety of areas.