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--> --> Allen arranges challenge grant for SMART program Ashland Daily Tidings The Oregon Children's Foundation announced earlier this week that the Paul G. Allen Charitable Foundation has made a three-year, $1 million challenge grant to the Start Making A Reader Today (SMART) early literacy program. The SMART program - headquartered in Portland - matches volunteers with children who need help learning to read and is in the second year of its three-year, $15 million Get SMART campaign to expand the program to serve every child who needs it. "Our vision is to give every child an equal chance to know the power of reading, no matter where he or she lives in Oregon," the foundation's Executive Director Mary Jubitz said in a written statement. "This will be a challenge, and we have a long way to go, but I know the caring people in our communities will help." SMART will serve nearly 13,000 children in 22 Oregon counties this school year. The program is slated to serve an estimated 20,000 children in all 36 Oregon counties by 2004. After the first 15 months of its Get SMART campaign, the Children's Foundation has secured $5.1 million in gifts and pledges toward its $15 million goal. To help ensure SMART reaches all 36 Oregon counties and receive the 10-to-1 $1 million challenge grant from the Paul G. Allen Charitable Foundation, the children's foundation must raise nearly $10 million more in gifts and pledges. "We need to raise awareness and support for SMART and Oregon's children in every part of the state," Jubitz said. "These two tremendous grants will help us do just that." Anyone interested in volunteering or helping SMART raise the 10-to-1 match needed to receive the foundation grant can call 1-877-598-4633. Additional information is also available at www.getsmartoregon.org Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing