Pictured is John Elliott, at right, trust officer from 1st Source Bank, with mother and son Annalyse and Blake Watters, and KLS Executive Director Cindy Cates at left. Blake received an ABC Board Book when he was born at Kosciusko Community Hospital.

The Esther Pfleiderer Charitable Trust at 1^st Source Bank recently awarded Kosciusko Literacy Services $1,000 to purchase ABC board books for babies born at Kosciusko Community Hospital. 

Kosciusko Literacy Services’ Baby’s First Book program encourages early literacy development in the county’s youngest residents. Reading to a baby or young child helps the child’s brain to develop language and literacy skills. These skills make learning easier when the child enters school. 

In addition to an English or a Spanish-English book, the new family receives information on early literacy development, tips on reading to children, and library information including an application for the baby’s first library card at the Warsaw Community Public Library

Cindy Cates, executive director of the Kosciusko Literacy Services, states the organization appreciates all the good The Esther Pfleiderer Charitable Trust does for Kosciusko County, the collaboration between Kosciusko Literacy Services and the Warsaw Community Public Library, and the obstetric nurses and staff who distribute the books and information to new families.

The Esther Pfleiderer Charitable Trust was established by Esther Pfleiderer to assist charitable organizations located in Kosciusko County in improving the quality of life in the county. Esther was born and raised in Warsaw and taught math for 39 years in the Warsaw school system. She also was very active in the community serving on the boards of the Salvation Army, Warsaw Community Public Library, Kosciusko County Community Foundation, Kosciusko County Historical Society, and the ministries of the First Presbyterian Church. In 1982, Esther Pfleiderer was recognized as Warsaw’s Woman of the Year.

Grant applications are available from 1^st Source Bank Personal Asset Management Group offices at 120 S. Lake St. in Warsaw. The next deadline for applications for grants is Sept. 30. For more information, contact John Elliott at 574-268-1207.