Navient Foundation contributes $10,000 to Osterhout Free Library to support literacy skills for Luzerne County families

WILKES-BARRE, Pa., July 26, 2017 -- Osterhout Free Library, one of the oldest libraries in Northeastern Pennsylvania, will undergo enhancements to help support the needs of area youth, thanks in part to a local employer’s support. As part of the Luzerne County Library System, the facility provides materials and services to children and families, enabling them to obtain information free of charge for their personal, educational, recreational and professional needs.

Buddy Coconut the dog has his favorite story read to him during Osterhout Free Library’s Read to a Dog program, which helps children overcome reading and speech difficulties by reading to a canine companion. Navient Foundation’s contribution helps support the initiative.

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Navient Foundation, the company-sponsored philanthropic fund, announced a $10,000 contribution to help bolster the library’s literacy development pursuits, technology upgrades and genealogy and ancestry programs. The company’s foundation has supported the library since 2001.

“The Osterhout Free Library is proud to partner with the Navient Foundation to foster literacy development for children and young adults,” said Rick Miller, executive director, Osterhout Free Library. “The generous donation will enhance library services and literacy skills to preschool-aged children, teenagers, families and caregivers in the community, plus help struggling young readers improve their reading habits and skills.”

The library offers a variety of programs to support literacy development for children and young adults that may otherwise be inaccessible due to financial or employment barriers of parents. Programs include Mommy & Me, where mothers read to their child, as well as Read to a Dog, which helps children overcome reading and speech difficulties by reading to a canine companion. Contributions will help purchase new books and other materials to support these and other programs.

Poetry workshops and book discussions are also available to help promote literacy skills for adolescents. In addition, the library hosts Teen Night every Wednesday, offering activities to get teens involved with the library and community. Grant funds will assist in the purchase of new computers, books and gaming equipment to enhance the library’s experience for that age group.  

In addition, the company’s contribution will provide additional training for the library’s genealogy and ancestry programs, allowing access to family and local history.

“Our libraries are an important environment for nurturing literacy skills, such as reading and writing, and can be gateways to exploring other cultures and places unfamiliar to our own,” said Lisa Stashik, vice president, Navient. “We’re grateful to have the historic Osterhout Free Library in our community, enriching the lives of our residents day after day.”

Learn more about the Osterhout Free Library.

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About Navient
Navient (Nasdaq:NAVI) is a leading provider of asset management and business processing solutions for education, healthcare, and government clients at the federal, state, and local levels. The company helps its clients and millions of Americans achieve financial success through services and support. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, Navient employs team members in western New York, northeastern Pennsylvania, Indiana, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and other locations. Learn more at navient.com.

Media: Nick LaMastra, 302-283-2964, [email protected]