Maryland Humanities Council Receives Grant Support for Maryland’s Only Statewide Reading Program
BGE, Nora Roberts Foundation, Wells Fargo, and M&T Bank Help Promote Reading and Discussion around the State
In support of One Maryland One Book, a program promoting reading and discussion activities throughout the state, the Maryland Humanities Council (MHC) has recently been awarded several grants from corporate and foundation partners: $10,000 from BGE, $10,000 from the Nora Roberts Foundation, $5,000 from Wells Fargo, and $2,500 from M&T Bank.
Now in its eighth year, One Maryland One Book—a program of the Maryland Center for the Book—brings diverse people in Maryland communities together through a shared humanities experience: the reading and thoughtful discussion of a selected book. With One Maryland One Book, the Maryland Humanities Council distributes thousands of copies of the annual selection at no cost to schools, libraries, and community nonprofit groups; provides teacher’s and reader’s guides and other educational programming support; and brings the author to Maryland for a statewide tour. Daniel James Brown, author of this year’s selection, The Boys in the Boat, will make public appearances around the state (exact tour dates and stops will be announced in August at www.mdhc.org).
One Maryland One Book is also generously funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, LSTA grant funds, through the Division of Library Development & Services (DLDS) at the Maryland State Department of Education.
MHC Executive Director Phoebe Stein said, “Corporations like BGE, Wells Fargo, and M&T Bank, foundations like the Nora Roberts Foundation, and founding partner DLDS—organizations who see the deep value and tremendous impact of the One Maryland One Book program—are critically important partners who help us to reach new participants and inspire them to keep reading and become more engaged in their communities.”
This is BGE’s third year of program support; its holding company, Constellation Energy, supported the program in the four years previous. This is the Nora Roberts Foundation’s first year as a program sponsor, Wells Fargo’s second, and M&T Bank’s fifth.
“At BGE, we believe in the importance of supporting the educational initiatives that provide opportunities for our communities to continue to grow and prosper,” said Calvin G. Butler Jr., Chief Executive Officer for BGE. “We are proud to continue our longstanding support of One Maryland One Book and applaud their efforts to bring diverse people in communities across central Maryland together through reading and thoughtful discussion.”
The 2015 One Maryland One Book Selection:
The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown
The Boys in the Boat is the dramatic true story of the American rowing team that stunned the world at Hitler’s 1936 Berlin Olympics. Daniel James Brown shares the improbable journey of nine working-class American boys who embodied determination and optimism. The team’s friendship, shared adversity, and trust in each other helped them become the legendary team that defeated the most elite rivals, including the German crew rowing for Adolf Hitler.