Warrick Dunn and Lulu's FSU PALM Center Work Together on Library Project

From the Tallahassee Democrat

Former Florida State University and NFL star Warrick Dunn continues to change the lives of single-parent families, recently teaming up with his alma mater to promote literacy.

The Warrick Dunn Family Foundation has collaborated with the FSU School of Library & Information Sciences to present two single-parent families with home libraries. A ceremony is scheduled for late morning today.

The presentation is an extension of the foundation's Home for the Holidays program, which works with Habitat for Humanity to provide furnished homes for single-parent families who are economically disadvantaged.

Nancy Everhart, associate professor in the School of Library & Information Studies, came up with the idea to instill the value of books and reading in young people in hopes that they would then carry on the tradition with future generations.

"We at the FSU College of Communication and Information are very proud of the work that Warrick Dunn and his foundation are doing," she said. "Warrick is an alum of our program and we wanted to support him.

"One of the things we do very well in the School of Library and Information Studies is select materials for young readers. It seemed like a natural fit to include home libraries in his Homes for the Holidays project."

The libraries are filled with books and other educational materials that will be presented to the families of Latashee Daniels and Wannessia Jefferson in Tallahassee, who recently became first-time homeowners through the Home for the Holidays program.

"I'm excited for this collaboration with FSU and our shared commitment to changing the lives of single-parent families," Dunn said. "Now that we've provided them with a stable home environment, the children have an opportunity to focus on building their literacy and education through the home libraries."

The home libraries project is a trial run in which the foundation hopes to set up a similar collaboration with other universities in Florida and expand to communities in Georgia and Louisiana.

Harry Note - Warrick Dunn graduated from FSU with a degree in Information Science. He builds new homes for single parents - and completely furnishes them for move-in right down paper towels - linens - and books. Nancy's PALM Center is working with Warrick to select the proper books to fit with the interests of the kids moving into the new homes.