The William S. Hart Union High School District recently received a donation of $50,000 from the WiSH Education Foundation to fill school libraries’ shelves with new books, officials said Thursday.

Approximately 23,000 students throughout grades 7 to 12 are set to benefit from the new stock of updated books in all Hart District schools, including Bowman and Sequoia.

“District librarians came to WiSH over a year ago to alert us to the fact that they have not received state funding since 2008,” said Amy Daniels, WiSH executive director. “Our goal is to get students the tools they need for success. The libraries are an integral part of that.”

After seeing the conditions of the books on the shelves in the school libraries, the WiSH Education Foundation saw the benefit the money would have on the students.

“When we saw the state of some of the books on our library shelves, we knew we had to make a difference — not just in replacing the most loved titles, but getting updated, modern subject matter available to our students,” said Lynne Secrest, vice chairman for WiSH.  “Reading is absolutely essential to academic growth.”

School libraries have not received recent funding due to a series of disasters in Santa Clarita and around the world, resulting in supporting dollars going elsewhere, officials said.

“With so many people in need, we absolutely recognize that discretionary income goes to other deserving recipients,” said Richard Cohn, chairman for the WiSH board of directors.  

The money donated by the WiSH Education Foundation was gathered from several sources, including the SCV Chili Cookoff and a new Jersey Mike’s restaurant grand opening fundraiser.

The WiSH Education Foundation also received grants from Reading is the Way UP, City National Bank and the LA Clippers Foundation.  

To make a donation to the WiSH Education Foundation, click here.

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