You can help to raise the chances of success for students at Saskatoon Public Schools by donating to a transformative literacy program.
That from Wayne Brownlee, who through the Brownlee Family Foundation has donated $10-million to the Early Learning Equal Start program.

The goal of the Saskatoon Public Schools Foundation is to raise $20-million to help students reach key literacy milestones. Board Chair of the Foundation , Stephanie Yong, says the funding would help to increase accessibility to education through full-day pre-kindergarten and kindergarten, Summer Reading Camps and literacy tutor programs. She explains that achieving Grade 3 reading proficiency positively impacts a student’s ability to graduate, along with their health and their employability, while reducing interactions with social services in the justice system. Right now, 28 per cent of Saskatoon’s Public School students aren’t able to reach this Grade 3 literacy rate.

A Grade 8 student, Eli Bird, says he benefitted from the Summer Reading Camp and the literacy tutor program when he was in Grade 3 and it helped him to enjoying reading. His dad Dez Bird says Eli now has a bedroom full of books. During a recent reading assessment, Eli got 100 per cent.

Wayne Brownlee says he has often wondered what he would have done if he had witnessed the Holocaust or Treaties not being honoured after being officially signed. He wonders if he would have done something , but he doesn’t have to wonder now about what he would do if he heard that Saskatoon students needed help with literacy. He hopes those that can donate, will do so. Click here to donate.