Target helps make over Dallas school library

MINNEAPOLIS – Target announced that on Feb. 2 it will celebrate the opening of the newly renovated library at the George Peabody Elementary School. The renovation was made possible with the help of The Heart of America Foundation and the NFL Players Association.

As part of the national Target School Library Makeover program and the NFL Players Association Day of Service, hundreds of volunteers and several current and former NFL players including, Dez Bryant, Chris Gronkowski, Dan Gronkowski, Rob Gronkowski, Chris Draft, John Booty, Nolan Harrison III, Ken Harvey, Dennis Ransom and Scott Turner will be on-hand to put the finishing touches on the new space, Target reported. The redesigned library will feature a larger space, 2,000 new books, eco-friendly design elements and a complete technology upgrade. Each student will also receive seven books to take home as part of the event, along with another seven books for each of his or her siblings.

In addition to the library makeover, Target said it will support George Peabody Elementary School and the Dallas Independent School District in two other ways. The first involves a donation of $150,000 to the school district’s Partners in Reading program.The second involves a grant to the North Texas Food Bank, a Feeding America affiliate, to implement a monthly school-based food pantry site, Meals for Minds.

“At Target, we understand that learning to read proficiently by the end of third grade is a critical step on the path to graduation, and we are dedicated to funding programs that help children in Dallas and across the nation achieve this important milestone,” said Laysha Ward, president of community relations, Target and Target Foundation. “Through the Target School Library Makeover program, our hope is to make reading fun and help kids reach their full potential by creating libraries that inspire children, teachers, parents and communities.”