$20K Donation To Boost Beverly Summer Literacy Program

BEVERLY, MA — Nearly 200 students in the Beverly Summer Literacy Program will benefit from a $20,000 donation from People's United Bank.

Building A Better Beverly, Inc. runs the Summer Literacy Program at no cost to students in partnership with Beverly Public Schools and the Beverly YMCA. It targets first, second and third graders in the city reading below grade level.

The program serves 180 students. Transportation is provided to students as well as breakfast and lunch onsite.

People's United Bank's charitable arm — The People's United Community Foundation of Eastern Massachusetts — made the donation.

"This program helps young Beverly learners make much-needed progress with their literacy skills each morning and provides summer camp activities at the YMCA every afternoon," Beverly Mayor Mike Cahill said. "All this is only possible thanks to the support of People's United Bank and our other partners.

"We're excited for our kids to arrive this summer and look forward to seeing their progress."

A John Hopkins Study of Baltimore Public Schools notes that low-income youth lose more than a half grade level of reading achievement over the summer, and if the problem is left unaddressed, that half grade level explodes to three grade levels by fifth grade.

The program operated at reduced capacity in 2020 because of the coronavirus crisis, but of those who did attend organizers said 100 percent maintained or improved skills without summer regression, and more than 80 percent advanced their reading level.

"Building A Better Beverly is helping students on their path to academic success," said Patrick Sullivan, Massachusetts President, EVP of People's United Bank and Officer of the Foundation. "The Summer Literacy Program is making an enormous impact on students while providing them with a camp-like experience.

"After this past year, students need that support and camaraderie more than ever, we are proud to help make that happen."

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)