The Dictionary Project

The Dictionary Project

File:TDP logo.jpg Logo of The Dictionary Project
Founded	May 1995
Type	501(c)(3) charitable organization
Focus	Education
Location	Charleston, South Carolina, USA
Area served	All 50 Unites States, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and several other countries
Key people	Mary French, Director Arno French, President Gregg Meyers, Board Member Barbara Massey, Board Member
Revenue	$2,815,231 USD (Year Ending 12/31/06)
Website	www.dictionaryproject.org

The Dictionary Project is a non-profit charitable organization based in Charlesotn, South Carolina, USA, and was founded by Mary French in 1995 to provide personal copies of a dictionary for third grade students in the South Carolina public school system. It has grown into a national organization. To date - June 2007 - over 5.3 million dictionaries have been distributed to children in the United States and internationally. It is funded through individual donations and by sponsors who introduce the program in their local schools. All contributions are tax deductible. The Dictionary Project is registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit association in all 50 United States.

Organization Goals

The purpose of The Dictionary Project is to provide dictionaries to students to keep to use as their own personal reference books. The project believes that a dictionary is an essential tool for a quality education and that a student cannot do his or her best work without one. A dictionary in the home serves as a resource for the whole family. It improves everyone’s vocabulary and it encourages children to learn more words. This organization seeks to provide dictionaries to all of the children who are in school. The program is typically implemented in the third grade each year.

Organization History And Growth

The idea for The Dictionary Project began in 1992 when Annie Plummer of Savannah, Georgia gave 50 dictionaries to children who attended a school close to her home. In her lifetime she raised the money to buy 17,000 dictionaries for children in Savannah, Georgia. Annie Plummer died December 23, 1999, but her dream did not die with her. She inspired the creation of The Dictionary Project, a nonprofit organization.

The Dictionary Project was created in 1995 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Charleston, South Carolina. Its original goal was to provide dictionaries to third graders in the public schools in the three counties surrounding Charleston, and this was accomplished in the 1995-96 school year and every year since. In 2001 the project was expanded to cover the third graders in all of South Carolina’s public schools.

The project grew tremendously after it was featured in an article on the front page of ''The Wall Street Journal'' on March 4, 2002 This coverage brought national attention to the project and its founders, Mary and Arno French. As a result, individuals and groups from across the United States became involved with The Dictionary Project and sponsored the donation of dictionaries to children in their local schools.

The project continues to expand and now includes sponsors in all fifty United States, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and several other countries. The program has been adopted by civic organization and adapted to local communities through the sponsorship of [[Rotary Club Rotary Clubs]test], BPO Elks, Kiwanis Clubs, Granges, TelecomPioneers groups, Lions Clubs, the Republican Federation of Women, by educational groups such as PTAs, and by individuals. Anyone can participate in this project by sponsoring a program to provide dictionaries to children in their community.

Sponsorship

Anyone can sponsor a project. Organizations and donors carry out their own fund-raising activities, and then sponsor the donation of books in the schools or area they choose. The project asks its sponsors to commit time to deliver the dictionaries to the children in person and make a short presentation that shows them how to use the dictionaries. This brief visit lets the children know that there are people in their community who are interested in their education and want to see them succeed.

Statistics

The project has grown dramatically since its beginning in 1995. Over 5.3 million books have been donated.

Below are the figures for the number of dictionaries given to children in the past three years.

Growth of The Dictionary Project

	2004	2005	2006
Dictionaries Donated	859,187	1,488,150	1,939,536
Growth %	-	62.7%	37.9%
Number of participating organizations	2,037	2,958	3,944
Growth %	-	45.2%	33.3%

Awards and Recognition

The Dictionary Project and its Director Mary French have been awarded several notable honors, including:

• the NFL/Parade Magazine Community Quarterback Award (2003)

• the Daughters of the American Revolution National Community Service Award (2003)

• the American Red Cross, Carolina Lowcountry Chapter Neighborhood Hero (2002)

• the JC Penney Golden Rule Award (2000)

• invitations to speak at conventions for Rotary International, the National Grange, and the TelecomPioneers.

In addition, sponsors who have implemented the project have been recognized:

• The California Dictionary Project received a Silicon Valley Impact Grant from the Cisco Foundation.

• Mr. and Mrs. Ormonde and Margaret Smith received the Gold Award from the Texas Association of Partners in Education.

• The Rotary Clubs of Arizona were commended by Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano for their participation in The Dictionary Project.

Media Coverage

The Dictionary Project has been featured by ABC News, ''The Wall Street Journal'', American Profile, KOTV News, and ''The State'', South Carolina newspaper.

International Projects

In the past year, The Dictionary Project has been receiving interest from international organizations wishing to expand the program overseas, as well as from US-based organizations who want to contribute to improving the education of school children in foreign and developing countries through the use of the English language. They hope to distribute more dictionaries to children outside of the United States in the coming years.

Form 990 and Tax Forms

The Dictionary Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization registered in all 50 states. Its IRS Form 990 and tax records are publicly available and can be obtained through the GuideStart website.

Links

• The Dictionary Project website