Indianapolis, Indiana – (November 29, 2017) – It was announced this week that Indy Reads has been awarded a grant totaling $185,000 from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.

“Indy Reads has made great strides this year to reach more students through our new Community Classrooms program,” said Ryan King, the CEO of Indy Reads. “This grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust will give us additional funding to open more classroom locations and provide additional resources to help students reach their educational and career goals.”

“During her career, Nina Mason Pulliam shared her financial success and business leadership skills with many charities. She had a keen awareness of challenges that face our community and would take great pride in the outstanding work being done by organizations like Indy Reads,” said Trustee Kent Agness. “Through her Trust, we continue to build on her legacy, which clearly reflects her heart for philanthropy.”

Low level literacy and English language learner students have the opportunity to increase their skills in the Community Classrooms and later move on to ABE/HSE programs or career training courses. “Students who are focused on educational achievement are engaged and invested. Invested students recognize the value of their hard work and that investment spills over into their families, communities, and the workplace,” said King. “The individual effort to increase literacy also has a positive impact on the city of Indianapolis as a whole.”

The grant to Indy Reads represents one of 29 awarded to organizations in Indiana by the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust during the second of two grant cycles this year. Since the Trust began its grant making in 1998, it has awarded more than $292 million to 963 organizations in its home states of Indiana and Arizona.

About Indy Reads:
For over 30 years, Indy Reads has promoted literacy to families and adults in Central Indiana. We believe that the foundation for success is literacy. High literacy levels give access to better educational, career, and developmental opportunities, but statistics show that 1 in 6 Hoosier adults currently read at or below a fifth-grade level. Through our interactive Community Classroom model, we offer programs for adult learners to increase literacy and English language proficiency. Experienced instructors, skilled student navigators, and trained classroom volunteers support students in their efforts to achieve. Our vision to Make Indianapolis 100% Literate will give everyone the necessary skills for a greater quality of life.

About the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust:
The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust was established upon the death of Nina Mason Pulliam in 1997 to support the causes she loved in her home states of Arizona and Indiana. The Trust seeks to help people in need, protect animals and nature, and enrich community life in metropolitan Indianapolis and Phoenix. Since its inception the Trust has distributed more than $292 million. For more information about the Trust and its programs visit www.ninapulliamtrust.org.

Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust Contact: Teri Walker
Title: Manager of Communications and External Relations
Email/Phone: twalker@nmpct.org; (480) 887-0083