The Lake County Public Library Foundation recognized first place winners of the annual Read-a-Thon at Avalon Manor in Merrillville on Wednesday, May 13. Each year the Foundation encourages schools in Calumet Township, Cedar Lake, Dyer, Schererville, Griffith, Highland, Hobart, Lake Station, Merrillville, Munster, New Chicago, and St. John to promote reading.
Children participate by seeking sponsors, then reading as many books as possible during the six-week read-a-thon. Once the funds have been collected, schools receive one-third of the total raised by their students for their library. This year, 927 children participated and over $16,000 was given to the schools. Trophies and award ribbons were given to every single child that participated, with gift cards from book stores given to students in first through eighth place for each of Lake County Public Library's locations. The sponsors of the event were Centier Bank, First Midwest Bank, Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc., Horizon Bank, Merrillville Breakfast Kiwanis Club, Peoples Bank, and Pinnacle Insurance Group of Indiana.
