SALT LAKE CITY — Innovative efforts to improve Utah literacy garnered special recognition by Lt. Governor Olene Walker today at the Second Annual Literacy Summit at Sandy’s Southtown Expo Center.

The Utah Power Fund/PacifiCorp Foundation for Learning, Price City Library, Karen Ashton from the Ashton Family Foundation and Dr. Bonnie Morgan of the Utah State Office of Education each received the 2002 Lt. Governor’s Literacy Award. The award honors the achievements of leaders in the fields of business, library, community and education.

Utah Power Fund/PacifiCorp Foundation for Learning was honored for its investments in progressive programs to enhance literacy in the state. In 2002, the Foundation announced a three-year, $1 million investment in early childhood literacy. The Foundation proactively selected three programs that focus on developing early reading skills as a foundation for education.

One of the three programs includes the Utah Motheread/Fatheread program — a family literacy program using reading and discussion of children’s literature that identifies and works with families of at-risk children early in their development through Head Start and Even Start programs.

"The Pacificorp Foundation for Learning's programs truly make a difference for Utah’s children and families," said Lt. Governor Walker. "I applaud its investment and its efforts to work toward making our communities better."

According to the Foundation, independent evaluations of participating programs show an average gain of one grade level in reading for those participating in the program. Through the PacifiCorp Foundation for Learning, Mothereads/Fathereads plans to expand the program to all 77 Head Start and Even Start programs in the state, reaching approximately 2,400 new families over three years.

"It’s gratifying to be associated with this proven family literacy program," said Isaac Regenstreif, PacifiCorp Foundation for Learning’s executive director. "We have great partners in Head Start and Even Start teachers, as well as the Utah Humanities council. It’s an honor to have Lt. Governor Walker, a literacy expert in her own right, bestow this award."

Other Award Winners include:

Library

Norma Procarione , Library Director, Price City Library
Paula Lewis , Literacy Program Manager
This library literacy program, in operation since 1989, has reached hundreds of individuals in the Price City/Carbon County area. Offering both literacy and ESL services, the program is a wonderful example of a library with a long-term, continuing commitment to literacy.

Community Leader

Karen Ashton from the Ashton Family Foundation
In 1989, with the hope of raising awareness in the community of the need for a children’s library, Karen founded the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival. Over the years, the festival along with the Friends of the Orem Public Library has raised over $1.5 million dollars for the Orem Children’s Library. The Storytelling Festival is one of the top three festivals of its kind in the country and all proceeds go to the Orem Children's Library for new books, materials and reading programs.

Education Leader

Dr. Bonnie Morgan, Utah State Office of Education
Dr. Morgan has been an educator for 35 years, including teaching social studies and English. At the State Office of Education Dr. Morgan has been the Title I Reading Specialist, Early Childhood Education Specialist, director of Curriculum, and is currently the associate superintendent of Instructional Services.

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