Phoenix Library earns grants, Spanish language ad time for College Depot program

By Mark Carlisle
Mail | X: @mwcarlisle

The Phoenix Public Library’s College Depot program recently received some grants from local businesses to help fund and bring awareness to the program.

One grant was from Univision, in it’s “Vehicle for Change” program, which partners with Toyota. The Spanish language network gave the library a $2,500 grant along with free air time on television and radio to advertise the College Depot program to Spanish speaking audiences.

“We’ll have more information from Spanish speaking media about College Depot and the work that they do in the community. So, that’s pretty cool,” Phoenix Library Services Director Erin MacFarlane told the Library Advisory Board during its June meeting.

College Depot is a free program that helps prepare high schoolers for college by helping them through the college admissions process and helping them secure as much scholarship and financial aid as possible.

The nonprofit Phoenix Public Library Foundation also secured three grants from Dollar General to benefit the library’s College Depot program. The grants will support College Depot’s family math, summer reading and adult learning programs MacFarlane said.

“We sent three thinking maybe one of them would be awarded, and we got all three,” she said.

MacFarlane did not mention how much the Dollar General grants were for.

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation was created 30 years ago to help individuals of all ages pursue their educational goals and achieve their dreams by investing in literacy programs that help students learn to read, prepare for the high school equivalency test or learn English, according to the nonprofit’s website.

Erin MacFarlane

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Mark Carlisle
Associate Editor | Phoenix

mcarlisle@iniusa.org

Meet Mark

Mark Carlisle joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2017, covering Glendale. He has since moved to the Daily Independent team, primarily covering the city of Phoenix along with other topics affecting the Valley at-large.

Community: Mark enjoys taking his two young sons to parks, the Phoenix Zoo, the Phoenix Public Library  and other fun events around the Valley. He also participates in a local book club.

Education: Chapman University with a BA in English Journalism and one in Screenwriting.

Random Fact: Mark worked at a tuxedo shop in college. Just don’t ask him to tie a bowtie.

 Hobbies: Spending time with his wife, sons and dog, watching sports and TV shows, listening to audiobooks and occasionally writing fiction or designing a board game.