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Grant applications are now being accepted from organizations that would like to host a Prime Time family reading program in their community in the fall. 

Applications will be accepted from March 15 until April 15. The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities’ Prime Time reading programs accept applications from community organizations such as schools, libraries, museums, churches and other community-based agencies that possess a valid EIN#. 

“For the first time since the pandemic began we anticipate most, if not all, of our programs will take place in person,” said Miranda Restovic, president and executive director of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities and Prime Time, Inc. “While we’re proud of what our Prime Time team members, partners and families were able to accomplish virtually during that time, we also know that so much of Prime Time is about the personal connections we make with each other, and we can’t wait to make those connections in person again.” 

Organizations can choose to host a Prime Time Family Reading program for families with children ages 6 to 10 or a Prime Time Preschool Reading program for families with children ages 3 to 5. Prime Time programs are designed to promote literacy and family engagement. Each session begins with a storyteller reading a carefully chosen, award-winning children’s book. Families are then engaged in discussion around the themes found in the book. Preschool programs also involve age-appropriate hands-on activities. 

Organizations whose applications are approved will host the 90-minute sessions once a week for six weeks. Prime Time programs take place at no cost to host organizations or participating families. Each partner site will receive a $1,000 site support stipend and a set of the children’s books used during the program, and participating families will keep all books for their personal home libraries. 

“In the last two years we have been proud to provide programming in a virtual format, which has allowed families to continue to benefit from Prime Time and deepen their connections with program sites and children’s literature,” said Shelley Stocker, vice president of education programs. “Planning for this fall we are hopeful that gathering in person will be possible once again, allowing families to share a meal with each other and enjoy the informal interactions that create lasting engagement with the community organizations and schools that host Prime Time in their communities.”  

Training for selected programs will be provided in July. 

Prime Time’s fall programs are made possible by Baptist Community Ministries, the Carolyn W. and Charles T. Beaird Foundation, Entergy Charitable Foundation, Grayson Foundation, Eugenie and Joseph Jones Family Foundation, Gustaf W. McIlhenny Foundation, RosaMary Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities, Shell, and W.K. Kellogg. 

For more information about Prime Time reading programs, email [email protected].