Empowering Students Through Multicultural Literature: The Impact of The Guru Krupa Foundation at PS 161

At Start Lighthouse, we’re deeply grateful for the continued support of The Guru Krupa Foundation, whose generosity has been instrumental in driving our mission forward. This year, their support has helped us significantly expand our reach with the opening of our third Literacy Hub at PS 161.

Through this partnership, we are able to provide brand new multicultural books that will reside in the home libraries of our students. These books not only reflect the rich diversity of our students' backgrounds but also open doors to new perspectives, ideas, and experiences. Having these culturally relevant stories in their home libraries empowers our students and their families to engage with literature that resonates with them.

One of our students, Crystal, shared, "The books I get to bring home are really special because I can share them with my family. I love reading about different cultures and learning things I didn’t know before."

The opening of our Literacy Hub at PS 161 marked a pivotal moment in our growth. Thanks to the Guru Krupa Foundation’s generous grant, we were able to double our impact, reaching even more young readers. The books provided through our partnership with Reading is Fundamental have brought an additional layer of support to our students, offering them the chance to develop a lifelong love of reading.

Principal Alana Bibergal of PS 161 reflected on the hub’s success, saying, "The Literacy Hub has transformed how our students connect with reading. These multicultural books have expanded their minds and created a sense of belonging in the stories they read. We’re so grateful to Start Lighthouse and The Guru Krupa Foundation for bringing this vision to life."

Each student at PS 161 now has access to these enriching resources, which have helped cultivate a love for reading that extends beyond the classroom. By building up home libraries with multicultural books, we are fostering a culture of literacy that will benefit both students and their families for years to come.

We couldn’t be prouder of the work we’ve accomplished, and we’re incredibly thankful to the Guru Krupa Foundation for playing such a pivotal role in making this possible. Their unwavering support has not only allowed us to expand our reach but has also deepened the impact we have on the communities we serve.