By Andrian Putra
Loganville, April 18, 2025 – At J.C. McGill Elementary School in Loganville, the power of storytelling took center stage this week, as students and faculty gathered to celebrate the arrival of a newly donated library: more than 150 books spanning multiple languages and cultures, carefully selected to reflect the school’s increasingly diverse student body.
The donation, made by the Preface Literacy Project in collaboration with the Geiger Foundation, is part of a broader initiative to promote early childhood literacy through access to inclusive and representative literature. The books will be incorporated into classrooms and a book vending machine used by students, with the goal of nurturing both academic development and cultural awareness.
“We celebrate the incredible work being done by early childhood educators day in and day out,” said JT Wu, founder and executive director of the Preface Project, in remarks during the ceremony. “This is a legacy gift—one built in consultation with teachers and school leaders—that will help fuel a lifetime of learning.”
The event underscored the expanding efforts of organizations and school districts to address literacy gaps and to offer educational materials that reflect the lived experiences of students in historically underserved communities.
Principal Guerlene Merisme described the books as “seeds planted,” emphasizing their role not only in instruction but in identity formation and creative exploration.
“A book has the privilege to change a student’s perspective, to ignite imagination and creativity,” Ms. Merisme said. “Your donation doesn’t just fill our shelves or our book vending machine—it fills minds and hearts.”
The event drew local school administrators, legislators, supporters and special guests, including Maria Gigante, the reigning Ms. Universal Woman 2024, who appeared in support of the literacy initiative. Additional contributions included healthcare supplies provided by EarthBaby and gift cards from Chick-fil-A, aimed at supporting teachers and school families.
While modest in scale, the donation reflects a growing recognition of the role that early literacy plays in shaping long-term educational outcomes. It also highlights the importance of inclusive storytelling in helping students see themselves—and one another—on the page.
