April 9, 2020

Virtual Award Ceremony

This virual grant presentation is open to the awarded library's staff, board members, and city officials.

  • DATE: Friday, April 30, 10am-12pm
  • SPEAKERS:
    • Anne Franz - daughter of Stephanie Miller-Davis
    • Daria Bossman - SD State Librarian
    • Laura Kelly - SDSL, Children and Youth Senior Librarian
    • Representative from the South Dakota Community Foundation

There will be a kick-off to give an overview of the grant program. Each library will have the opportunity to briefly share how they plan to use their grant.

We look forward to hearing the stories of children impacted by your work in the community. We are honored to support you!

Best Wishes,
The Family of Stephanie Miller-Davis

April 9, 2021

Stephanie Miller-Davis Library Summer Reading Grant Program Awardees

The Stephanie Miller-Davis Library Summer Reading Grant Program has continued its third year supporting summer reading programs in small rural communities in partnership with the South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF) and the South Dakota State Library (SDSL). The program has distributed $25,000 to libraries in rural communities across South Dakota.

Stephanie loved books. She created her legacy by donating children's books and bookcases to the school library in her hometown of Murdo, SD. She wanted to provide the children in the community the books she longed to read as a child growing up on the South Dakota prairie.

"My mother's legacy will go on through this exciting grant program," said Stephanie's daughter, Anne Franz. "If my mom was here today, I think she would be proud that we are continuing to support the heroic work of parents, teachers, librarians and other community members to provide every child the chance to read even through the challenges of any social distancing necessary this summer."

"We are so thankful for the vision and passion of the Miller-Davis family to serve the literacy needs of kids in small towns and rural areas across South Dakota. These rural public libraries have struggled in recent years, especially during the pandemic, to keep their doors open." said Daria Bossman, South Dakota State Librarian. "Having a quality summer reading program with new books is such a treasure for the entire community."

"The South Dakota Community Foundation is proud to partner with the Stephanie Miller-Davis family as they perpetuate their mother's passion and investment in early childhood literacy across South Dakota," said Jeff Veltkamp, SDCF Director of Development. "I think Stephanie would be very proud to see her husband and daughters continuing her investment in children."

The SDCF administers over 1,000 funds benefiting thousands of wonderful causes every year. To learn more about charitable opportunities through the SDCF, please visit sdcommunityfoundation.org or call (605) 224-1025.

The South Dakota State Library (SDSL) is a division of the SD Department of Education. SDSL supports local libraries and works to build capacity within the state's public and school libraries with an overall goal of 100,000 SD children participating in summer reading programs. You can participate by joining your local library and attend summer reading events! Bring your family and friends too! Attend in-person, outdoor, take home or virtual programming towards our continued goal of 100,000 participants. Take a book selfie of yourself and share on social media with #SDSummerReading2021. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube! To learn more please visit library.sd.gov.

Each of the following libraries were awarded $1,000 to support their summer reading programs:

  • Armour-Carnegie Public Library
  • Avon Public Library
  • Britton Public Library
  • Clear Lake City Library
  • Emil M. Larson Library
  • Freeman Public Library
  • Haakon County Public Library
  • Hand County Library
  • Hot Springs Public Library
  • Hurley Public Library
  • Hyde County Library
  • Lake Andes Carnegie Library
  • Lemmon Public Library
  • Langford Public Library
  • M.P. Beebe Memorial Library
  • Newell Public Library
  • Northwest Regional Library
  • Parker Public Library
  • Parkston Public Library
  • Potter County Free Library
  • Scotland Community Library
  • Sherwood Memorial Library
  • Tripp County Library -- Grossenburg Memorial
  • Waubay Public Library
  • Webster Public Library

See SDCF NEWS RELEASE

Stephanie Miller-Davis Grant and 2021 Cycle

What: A grant program to promote early childhood literacy in the rural South Dakota communities. Funding is made possible from the Stephanie Miller-Davis Charitable Fund, a private donor advised fund from a SD family, in collaboration with the SD State Library and the South Dakota Community Foundation. Grant funds are encouraged to be used to broaden programming during this time of social distancing to include curbside, outdoor and virtual programming.

Eligibility: South Dakota public libraries that are state and federally recognized and in compliance with State statues with LSA population (Legal Service Area) of 5000 or fewer residents for city libraries and under 7500 (LSA) for county libraries. Any South Dakota tribal/public library on any South Dakota reservation regardless of size may apply. South Dakota public school libraries may partner with an eligible public library closest to them and apply jointly. An official 501c3 "Friends of the Library" may apply on behalf of a public library.

Applications should be submitted online through your sponsoring public library's annual report portal at sd.countingopinions.com . Sign in using your library's annual report account credentials. Select the Stephanie Miller-Davis Grant from the Collection menu.

  • Open Registration: Tuesday, December 1, 2020
  • Close Registration: Monday, February 1, 2021
  • Grant Decisions communicated by: Friday, February 26, 2021

Terms and Conditions of Acceptance

  1. No more than 25 grants will be awarded.
  2. Failure to complete all questions on the application form may jeopardize an applicants' chances.
  3. The grant is for $1000; not more or less.
  4. All funds must be directed toward a summer reading program or programs, children's spaces, children's books and materials.
  5. All funds must be accounted for with receipts when applicable.
  6. Funds cannot be spent on salaries or food.
  7. All awarded funds must be spent by August 31, 2021.
  8. Failure to complete an evaluation form and submit by the deadline may jeopardize future opportunities to apply.
  9. Self-Evaluation must be submitted by September 30, 2021.
  10. All award decisions are made by the Miller-Davis family and are final.

Questions? Contact:

Youth Services Coordinator

Amanda Raiche

1-605-773-3131 (Option 5, 1)
1-605-773-5066
email