Minnesota Lake Resort Donates To Literacy Program

Online, February 22, 2010 (Newswire.com) - For the second year in a row, Ruttger's Bay Lake Lodge has donated $6,000 to the Aitkin School District to help support the district's literacy and reading programs. The Ruttger's Enhanced Reading Fund money this year was split between Cuyuna Range Elementary School in Crosby and the elementary school in Aitkin.

The fund is managed through the Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation that takes care of non-profit bookkeeping details and that allows Ruttger's to concentrate on fund-raising. Together, they allow people like Kathy Hakes-Fastner to concentrate on reading programs for their youngest and most challenged students.

"I really appreciate it because I can put these dollars where they're needed. If a teacher like Kathy comes to me with something she needs for a reading program, I can say, 'Go do it,' " Rippleside Elementary Principal Al Albertson said about the donation. "Beginning about five years ago, we've made reading and literacy a number one priority in this building because it's so important to have students reading on grade level by at least the third grade."

The fund has been in operation for a few years now and Aitkin was added when a Brainerd-area school closed that had been receiving donations from the fund.