The Long Beach Unified School District received a pair of major donations last week, intended to aid the district’s efforts to continue providing education throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Molina Foundation gifted a grant that provided 75,000 new children’s books at a value of $655,000.
“Especially in this time of distance learning and limited access to print materials, we truly appreciate The Molina Foundation’s generous gift to our students,” LBUSD Library Curriculum Leader Crystal Miranda said in a statement. “We are very grateful for these 75,000 brand new books that will be put directly into students’ hands.”
The district and the Molina Foundation began distributing the books last week with a giveaway at Herrera Elementary, the kickoff of an effort that will continue over the next several weeks.
At the district’s board meeting last week, the LBUSD also acknowledged a $90,000 donation from Mike and Tracy Murchison, whose Long Beach Challenge event brought in money to help support families during the pandemic. The Murchisons also delivered an additional check for $15,000 from the Bess J Hodges Foundation for the express purpose of providing more portable internet hotspots for families.
