About the Sarah Badgley Literacy Fund

The Ontario Library Association administers the Sarah Badgley Literacy Fund. Sarah Rosalind Badgley (1998-2001) was a beautiful, bright, inquisitive, and very happy girl. Sarah never learned to read, but she adored books and loved visiting her local public library. In July 2001, at the age of three, Sarah was tragically killed in an automobile accident. Her parents, Susan and Kerry Badgley of Kemptville, Ontario, created the Fund in Sarah’s memory.

What Can Grants Be Used For?

Grants up to $500 per year are available to rural public libraries and to urban public libraries that serve rural clientele. The number of grants varies from year to year, depending on annual fund-raising efforts. Typically, up to four grants are provided each year. The purpose of the grant is to support children’s literacy initiatives. Priority is given to those libraries that promote the love of reading by using the grant for such things as literacy programmes (story time, book/activity bags, other literacy initiatives, etc.), book purchases, or equipment purchases (such as Lego, software and digital media).