Greenwood Family Fund Continues to Inspire Learning at Grand Valley Public Library

The Grand Valley Public Library’s Community Kick-Off, Touch-a-Truck event and BBQ on June 29, 2026, was the perfect setting to celebrate an exciting announcement for the community.

The Greenwood Family Fund through Dufferin Community Foundation proudly renewed its commitment to the Grand Valley Public Library (GVPL), awarding a $7,500 annual grant for both 2026 and 2027 – a total investment of $15,000 – to continue supporting the library’s children and youth summer programming.

 

“Grand Valley is where our family business started so it’s such a pleasure to support the Grand Valley Public Library and give back to the community” shared Amie Zukowski (Greenwood Family Fund).

This support builds on the success of similar grants from the Greenwood Family Fund provided in 2024 and 2025, which helped the GVPL expand engaging, high-quality programming while also making activities and resources accessible to all families. The positive impact has been felt throughout the community, with parents sharing how excited they were to see their children reading more than ever over the summer.

“The programs that they provide for both children and adults are an invaluable asset to the community. We love the work they are doing,” added Zukowski. 

 

Greenwood Family Fund Impact on the GVPL Since 2024

Thanks to the grant support, the GVPL has been able to offer enriching, free programming that encourages literacy, creativity, and community connection.

2024 Library Summer Programming Highlights

• 69 in-person programs delivered over eight weeks with 671 participants in total.
• Programs included Story Time, TD Summer Reading Club, LEGO Club, Baby & Toddler Time, Activity Corner, Teen Reading Boxes, Mad Mondays, the TD StoryWalk® featuring The Darkest Dark, and Farm to Library workshops in partnership with Headwaters Food and Farming Alliance.
• Summer reading participation grew dramatically, with 107 registered readers compared to 49 in 2023.
• Participants in the TD Summer Reading Challenge logged an incredible 3,678 books, up from 893 books the previous year – that’s a 312% jump!  There were also 107 participants in this reading challenge, up from 36 in 2023 – a 225% increase!
• Weekly reading prizes feature reading materials.

2025 Library Summer Programming Highlights

• In-house summer programs welcomed 677 participants (similar to 2024), averaging 96 youth per week.
• Programming included Find the Flag, STEM Adventures, Young Explorers, Summer Story Time, Teen Summer Reading Boxes, Tween Video Dances (in partnership with the Agricultural Society), and cooking programming (which had a nominal cost).
• Community celebrations, including the Summer Kick-Off Party and End-of-Summer Foam Party, brought families together in a fun and welcoming environment.
• The Summer Reading Program continued its strong momentum, with preschool readers (aged 0-8) logging 1,413 books and intermediate readers( aged 9–18) recording an impressive 33,283 minutes of reading.
• Enhanced prize offering and rewards, including larger end of summer prizes, weekly incentives, and end-of-summer celebrations (with pizza and beverages). These further encouraged participation while supporting local businesses whenever possible.

 

The Future is Bright for Summer Programming at the Grand Valley Public Library

With renewed funding for 2026 and 2027, the GVPL will continue to provide high-quality, inclusive, and accessible summer programming that inspires a love of reading, encourages lifelong learning, and strengthens community connections for children and youth throughout Grand Valley and the surrounding area.

We’re proud to support the incredible work the Grand Valley Public Library does every day and look forward to seeing the positive impact this grant will continue to have over the next two years, and beyond.