STAUNTON, VA, January 6, 2010 – The Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge announces that it has once again received a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to host The Big Read in Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta County. The Community Foundation is one of a select group nationwide of libraries, municipalities, and arts, culture, higher education, and science organizations to receive a grant to host The Big Read from September 2009-June 2010. The Big Read gives communities the opportunity to come together to read, discuss, and celebrate one of 30 selections from American and world literature. The Big Read in Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta County will focus on Ray Bradbury’s famous novel Fahrenheit 451 throughout the month of March. Activities will take place all over the community in libraries, schools, restaurants, theaters, galleries, nursing homes, clinics, among other places.

The Community Foundation, in partnership with the Staunton Public Library, the Waynesboro Public Library, the Augusta County Libraries, and The News Leader, has hosted two extremely successful Big Reads in 2008 and 2009.  “We are thrilled to once again be included in this select group of communities,” the Community Foundation’s Grants Manager Christiana Shields said.  “It is a wonderful opportunity for Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta County, and will serve as both a catalyst to bring our community together and a highly creative effort to encourage literary reading.”

“The Big Read highlights not only literature, but also what can be accomplished in partnership,” said NEA Acting Chairman Patrice Walker Powell. “We welcome our new community partners to The Big Read family and look forward to continuing this transformative dialogue between neighbors and across borders.”

The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. The NEA presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest. Support for The Big Read is provided by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Transportation for The Big Read is provided by Ford.  For more information about The Big Read please visit www.neabigread.org.