2015 Library Grant Winners Announced!

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Everyone loves to be given money. But, we’ve got to say, giving it away feels pretty good, too!

2015 Winners
The Kansas Book Festival Foundation is excited to announce the winners of the 2015 Kansas Book Festival Library Grants:

Technology Grants
Wamego Public Library – $929
Wallace County Public Schools – $2,000
McCune Osage Township Library – $600
Washburn Rural High School Library – $645
Clearwater Public Library – $1,968

Book Grants
Oaklawn Elementary School Library – $500
Formoso Public Library – $500
Earl M. Lawson Elementary Library – $800
Vermillion Public Library – $300
Elmendaro Township Library – $500
Harper Public Library – $178
Augusta High School Library – $800
Horton Public Library – $500
Pioneer Memorial Public Library – $440
Dodge City Public Library – $500

Representatives from Horton Public Library, Harper Public Library, Clearwater Public Library, Washburn Rural High School Library and Earl M. Lawson Elementary Library were on hand to receive their checks at a press conference announcing the winners on March 26 at the State Library.

The Kansas Book Festival first started granting money in 2012 and since then, more than $50,000 has been given away to 34 schools and 28 public libraries across the state.

Check out a couple of pictures below from our event and stay tuned this Fall for the announcement about our 2016 grants!

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Featured Author – Matt Deighton

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matt-deighton
Matt Deighton was a presenting author at our 2014 Kansas Book Festival and is our very first featured author!

Being a survivor of the Greensburg EF5 tornado Matt has felt the need to help others in difficult times. From Newtown, CT to Sendi, Japan he has traveled with a message of hope for disaster survivors.

His wonderful dog, Molly, has traveled with him to over 7 disaster sites in the United States. They both were asked to walk the Red Carpet at the Tribeca Film Festival in NYC for a documentary movie titled; New York Says Thank You the Movie.

He soon found myself wanting to reach out to children through Molly. This is why he wrote “Molly and the Tornado”. The book shares their story of May 4th, 2007 and the following three years of the recovery process.

molly-and-the-tornado

The general message in the book is “Pay it forward” with storm safety tips featured in the back. This has made school and library visits are very exciting! Matt loves to see kids enjoy the. As well as understand storm safety!

Matt’s passion is to help others and to share the powers of “paying it forward.” He is currently working on “Molly and the Stars of Hope” and is kept busy with public speaking events.

Matt is also currently scheduling book readings for the spring so if you are interested feel free to contact him by phone (620-388-1860) or Facebook.

www.mollydogbooks.com
https://www.facebook.com/MollyDogBooks?ref=hl
https://www.facebook.com/mattdeightonspeaker?ref=hl

Featured Author – Joe D. Schrag

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Joe

Joe was a presenting author at the 2014 Kansas Book Festival and is the author of The Kansas Relays: Track and Field Tradition in the Heartland, published by Adina Publishing (www.adinapublishing.com).

This is the first book-length treatment of this historic track meet that has been held in Lawrence, Kansas, since 1923. It is a full-color book with more than 150 photos, and Schrag’s narrative highlights the biggest names in the sport who have competed there, from the first year to the move to a new venue, Rock Chalk Park, in 2014.

 

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Joe is a native of Norwich, Kansas, lifelong resident of the Sunflower State and holds a Master of Arts degree in English from the University of Kansas. He has attended every Kansas Relays since 1954 as either an athlete, coach, official or (one year) as a spectator.

Schrag is a member of five Halls of Fame including being a 2007 inductee into the Kansas Relays Hall of Fame. He served as high school meet referee at the KU Relays in 1977. Schrag spent 41 years (1962- 2003) at Topeka West High School, serving as coach of track and field and cross country during that entire span. He also taught English and served as athletic director. He sent hundreds of athletes to the Kansas Relays during his years as coach, a career that resulted in eight state championships. A former competitive runner, Schrag also completed 37 marathons.

To learn more about Joe and his incredible talents head on over to his website!