The DC Public Library Foundation has announced a $2.7 million gift from Jeff Bezos in support of a new reading and literacy program for children in the region.

The largest-ever gift to the foundation will support the Beyond the Book program, which is designed to improve the reading ability of children in kindergarten through third grade by providing support for the transition from pre-k to kindergarten, books for children and their families, and family literacy programs. Recruitment for the program will be focused on branch libraries located across the region in neighborhoods with a high percentage of low-income households or those neighborhoods surrounding schools with low academic achievement levels.

“Decades of research shows that early childhood is a critical time for brain development, and the support provided by programs like Beyond the Book give underserved children a leg up during this critical stage of life,” said Bezos, who owns the Washington Post. “Thank you to the DC Public Library Foundation for your thirty-five years of work investing in children across our nation’s capital — families throughout the community are grateful for your impact.”

(Photo credit: Gettyimages / Jovan EPN)