LEONORA B. SMITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MEDIA CENTER
TO GET A SUPER MAKEOVER DURING SUPER BOWL XLI WEEK

The students, teachers and staff at Leonora B. Smith Elementary School got an early holiday surprise when Alberto Carvalho, Miami-Dade County Public Schools Associate Superintendent, joined Angela Halamandaris, President of the Heart of America Foundation, on Wednesday morning to announce the school’s selection for the foundation’s READesign™ “library makeover,” to be held on January 27, 2007.  The $100,000 in-kind contribution will be used to revitalize technology, replenish bookshelves and redecorate the media center.  
 
“Reading is an access point to new knowledge,” said Rudy Crew, Superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools. “By providing our students with engaging books and a rejuvenated place to read and our teachers with more tools to help them, the Heart of America Foundation can take pride in making a real difference in the lives of these students.”
 
The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) is co-hosting the event.  NFL players will be on-hand to help with the renovations, as well as read to the students and interact with the families.
 
“We are very excited to work with Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the NFLPA, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida to help create a vibrant center of learning and reading for Leonora B. Smith.” said Halamandaris.  “This is a wonderful opportunity to provide the tools that help children read, succeed and make a difference.”
 
On Wednesday, Halamandaris and Willis Whalen from the NFLPA visited five elementary schools.  The pair met with the principal and media specialist at each school to assess needs.
 
“This is going to be great for the school and the community,” said Wanda Heidelberg, principal at Leonora B. Smith.  
 
“This makeover will generate excitement, and our students will want to come to the library,” said Claire Price, the school’s media specialist.  “Kids need to love to read to want to read.  A love of reading has a significant influence on student learning.”
 
In addition to expanding to the school’s book collection, Heart of America will give every student in the school their own books to take home. “This will give our students an opportunity to build their own library at home and read with their family,” said Price.  
 
The Heart of America Foundation was founded in 1997.  Its programs focus on literacy, character education and service learning.  Heart of America has touched the lives of 850,000 children since its inception and has donated over 1 million books.

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