Brooks Announces $50,000 Grant for Mercier Literacy Program

School #9 Principal Sharon Jackson, Program Director Naomi Erdman, Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks, George Mercier and County Human Services Commissioner Kelly Reed.

Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks joined Mercier Literacy Program founder George Mercier to announce that Monroe County will award funding to the non-profit for the continued expansion of its literacy program that helps Rochester City School children learn to read. County Executive Brooks presented a check to children who participate in the summer program at Rochester City School #9. 
 
Monroe County is contributing $50,000 to the Mercier Literacy Program through a grant from the County’s Department of Human Services. George Mercier will partially match the County’s grant by donating $25,000.
 
“The money that is being presented to the Mercier Literacy Program is a continuation of a successful public-private partnership whose return on investment is best evidenced by the children who have grown into avid readers,” said County Executive Brooks. “Together with George Mercier and our other community partners, we are ensuring a bright future for these young people and I couldn’t be more proud of the spirit of cooperation that continues to grow each year.”
 
Last summer, the literacy program was held at Rochester City School #45 through the “Camp Read-a-Lot” initiative. This year’s County grant money has enabled the Mercier Literacy Program to expand to include 140 kindergarten and first-grade students at Rochester City School #9 as part of their intensive reading program. 
 
“We are so pleased to receive this contribution from Monroe County and have been able to enroll even more children in our program,” said George Mercier, founder of the Mercier Literacy Program. “The need in this community is great when it comes to ensuring that our kids learn how to read. There are all sorts of funding streams out there for college scholarships, but if these kids don’t know how to read, they’ll never have that opportunity.”   
 
The Mercier Literacy Program was founded in 2002, and is the only community-based nonprofit focused exclusively on child literacy. The program is operated through a partnership between Rochester City School #9 and Nazareth College. All teachers in the program hold master’s degrees and New York State teaching certifications, and many also have experience in special education, literacy, and early childhood development. 
 
For more information on the Mercier Literacy Program, contact Katie Paxton-Johnson at (585) 424-3333.