COLUMBIA TOWN CENTER ROTARY FOUNDATION
Making A Difference!

The Columbia Town Center Rotary strives to get books into the hands of kids in Howard County. We want every child to have books of their own and love to read.  We want all children to become lifelong learners.  These signature literacy-based projects are making a real difference in the lives of the children they reach.  See information videos at the bottom of this page.

• Birthday Books Programs at Title 1 HCPSS Elementary Schools - Birthday Books Programs give every student an age-appropriate, skill-appropriate book of their own on their birthday to take home and keep every year while in elementary school. We have sponsored Birthday Books programs in three HCPSS Elementary Schools for the past 3 years seeing very positive results. Now, CTC Rotary is leading the way to find sponsors to establish Birthday Books Programs in every Title I Elementary School in Howard County. This program stimulates interest in reading. (See video below.)
• Little Free Libraries - Little Free Libraries are more than just book-sharing boxes they're community touchpoints that spark curiosity, encourage reading, and build connections. Right here in Howard County, they offer a powerful way to get books directly into the hands of children and families. By placing Positive Vibes Kids Books in these libraries, we're spreading daily affirmations, literacy, and encouragement to young readers, helping them start each day with confidence and hope, one page at a time. (See video below.)
• Positive Vibes Kids Books - Positive Vibes Kids Books, created by Preston Mitchum Jr., are a powerful tool to uplift and inspire young people. Filled with daily affirmations, these books encourage confidence, self-love, and resilience in children as they navigate life's journey. The Positive Vibes movement also includes a unique co-authoring program that empowers students to write and publish their own affirmation books, giving them the chance to share their voices, tell their stories, and become authors of their own words.
• Rotary Dictionary Project Dictionaries for 3rd Graders - The Rotary Dictionary Project is a nationwide effort to provide young students with their own personal dictionaries. These dictionaries are filled with more than just terms and definitions. They also include a mini encyclopedia filled with maps, facts about U.S. presidents, countries of the world, and the solar system, and math conversation tables. Many of the children who receive dictionaries come from homes where English is a second language and may not have access to a lot of resources.
• Summer Reading Program  - The Community Action Council of Howard County's Summer Enrichment Program ensures that up to 400 young students across the county continue to receive high-quality, full-day education during the warmer months. This vital summer initiative supports early learning and school readiness while also offering hands-on learning opportunities designed to inspire curiosity, creativity, and connection. Columbia Town Center Rotary contributions help enable CAC to continue to pay their teaching staff throughout the summer and provide new books to families to keep them engaged and learning throughout the summer months. (See video below.)