Hannah’s Hope Fund awards grant for school reading room

Hannah’s Hope Fund has announced that a second distribution from the fund was used to purchase much needed and more durable furniture for all the activity that Hannah’s Reading Corner experiences in the Victor School Library on a daily basis.

Amber Lynch, Victor School K-12 Library Media Specialist, applied for the grant this summer and had the furniture assembled and ready to use by the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year.

As a K-12 library, all students in the school, approximately 260, get to use Hannah’s Reading Corner for reading, studying, and sometimes just hanging out. It’s a comfortable and welcoming environment.

Because the reading corner is used so much, furniture does wear out quickly. Except for the wonderful wooden rocking chair that was donated for the June 1, 2015 dedication of Hannah’s Reading Corner, the items in the reading corner were falling apart and were looking quite shabby. When the new school year started, students were so excited to have “real furniture,” a new sectional outdoor couch and side pieces. Students can be really hard on things, but there seems to be more respect when they have “nicer things,” said Lynch.

“Hannah was not only an outstanding student, but a phenomenal person,” said Lynch. “She was bright not only academically, but also in her personality. It was my honor to be her teacher and to memorialize her by dedicating our school library’s reading corner. It helps keep Hannah’s memory alive. I am so grateful to have access to Hannah’s Hope Fund to keep her reading corner inviting, comfortable, and cozy.”

Hannah’s Hope Fund was established in memory of Hannah Gwen Johnson by her family to benefit Victor school teachers and children. Due to the dedication of teachers at Victor, Hannah experienced great academic and sports success. She entered into the Victor Public School system as a kindergarten student and graduated in 2009 as the Valedictorian. With quiet strength and enthusiastic determination, she graduated from the University of Montana in 2013 with a double major in Elementary and English Education degrees and was hired as a 4th grade teacher at Hellgate Elementary in Missoula as well as a Hellgate Middle School Volleyball coach. Her life was tragically taken in an automobile accident on her way to help with a youth fundraiser in Victor on February 22, 2014. Hannah’s family will match every dollar, up to $250 per year. The funds donated will be distributed to Victor School educational professional(s) to use toward the cost of supplies/materials/education needed to creatively inspire their students to be responsible stewards by motivation and encouragement through mental and physical activities. 

Donations to Hannah’s Hope Fund can be dropped off at any Farmers State Bank branch, or mailed to Victor Schools Foundation, PO Box 1047, Victor MT 59875. Checks should be made payable to: Victor Schools Foundation Hannah’s Hope Fund. A tax exemption receipt can be obtained by including your name and mailing address with the donation.