The Lake County Public Library Foundation recognized first place winners of the annual Read-a-Thon at Avalon Manor in Merrillville on Wednesday, May 21.
Each year the Foundation encourages schools in Gary, Merrillville, Cedar Lake, Dyer, Schererville, Griffith, Highland, Hobart, Lake Station, Munster, New Chicago, and St. John to promote reading. Children participate by seeking sponsors, then reading as many books as possible during the six-week read-a-thon.
Once the money has been collected, schools receive one-third of the total raised by their students for their library. This year, 947 children participated and over $28,000 was given to the schools. Trophies were given to all students who raised money and gift cards from Target were given to students in first through eighth place.
The sponsors of the event were Purdue Federal Credit Union, First Merchants Bank, Centier Bank, and Tech Credit Union.
Foundation members: Michael McIntyre, Deborah Milne, Marti Ross and Tom Lounges pose with the winners and their trophies: Holland Krygsheld, Silas Voyles, Brady Zoladz, Layla Lopez, Aveline Pelletier, Olive Massey, Aviana Turnbull, Yashar Alavizadeh, and Reuel Mubibya.