Cindy Cates, executive director of Kosciusko Literacy Services, accepts a donation from the Esther Pfliederer Charitable Trust from Trevor Ross, vice president and trust officer of First Source Bank

WARSAW — The Esther Pfleiderer Charitable Trust at 1st 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.

Baby’s First Book also provides information on Read to Grow Children’s Book Club which provides a new book each month to eligible preschool children in Kosciusko County.  Kosciusko Literacy Services’ Read to Grow Children’s Book Club has served Kosciusko County as a United Way partner program since 2006.

First Source Bank Vice President and Trust Officer Trevor Ross presented the donation to Kosciusko Literacy Services’ Executive Director Cindy Cates.  Cates stated that Kosciusko Literacy Services appreciates the support of the Esther Pfleiderer Charitable Trust and the collaboration of Kosciusko Literacy Services, the Warsaw Community Public Library, and KCH’s 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. Born and raised in Warsaw, Pfleiderer taught math for 39 years in the Warsaw school system.

She 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, she was recognized as Warsaw’s Woman of the Year. Grant applications are available from 1st Source Bank Personal Asset Management Group offices at 120 South Lake Street in Warsaw.  The next deadline for applications for grants is Sept. 30.  For more information, contact 1st Source Bank at (574) 268-1207.

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