ECRL College Sweepstakes Winner

Six year old Danielle Cavallin of Pine City was selected as a winner in this summer’s “Get Creative @ Saving for College” sweepstakes, sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Education, State Library Services and the Minnesota College Savings Plan. Jeff and Jaclyn Cavallin, parents of Danielle, were awarded a $1,000 cash prize that can be invested in a Minnesota College Savings Plan account for the benefit of Danielle. The sweepstakes, which received over 4,000 entries statewide this summer, was a component of this year’s Minnesota Library Summer Reading Program, held at public libraries throughout the state. The Pine City Public Library branch of ECRL where Danielle participated in the Summer Reading Program, also won a $500 cash prize. In total, 15 $1,000 cash prizes were awarded to summer reading program participants in Minnesota. The 15 libraries where the winners participated in the summer reading program also won $500 towards future reading programs.

Danielle received her "big" check at the 50th Anniversary Celebration at the Pine City Public Library on Thursday, November 19. Danielle's entire family was there to help her celebrate.

The Minnesota Library summer reading program is offered through local libraries to encourage children to read during the summer and has over 60,000 children participating every year. “This is the first time that we’ve offered a college savings sweepstakes through the annual Summer Reading Program,” said Suzanne Miller, Director of Minnesota’s State Library Services. “We are pleased with our partnership with the Minnesota College Savings Plan and the response from the children, their parents and the libraries. It was a good opportunity to encourage children to read while school was out for the summer, and to emphasize saving for college with Minnesota’s 529 College Savings Plan.”

The Minnesota College Savings Plan (the “Plan”) is a state-sponsored, tax-advantaged 529 college savings plan to help parents and grandparents invest in a child’s future college education. The Plan is implemented and administered by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education and managed by TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc.

Vickie Sorn, ECRL Youth & Community Services Librarian