Todd Oldham and Target Unveil Newly Renovated Library at P.S. 21 in Staten Island

Todd Oldham, creator and designer of Kid Made Modern, teamed up with Target to redesign the library at PS 21 in Staten Island and create a food pantry that will provide fresh produce and staple foods to students and their families.

On Oct. 26, Target Corp. and The Heart of America Foundation unveiled a state-of-the-art library and Target Meals for Minds food pantry at P.S. 21 in Staten Island. As part of the 2012 Target School Library Makeover program, which includes plans to give more than $12 million to support education, the retailer is unveiling new libraries at a total of 32 in-need elementary schools across the country. In addition, Target will award $15,000 reading grants to five New York City schools that previously received library makeovers.

Kid Made Modern creator and designer Todd Oldham helped to redesign the space by incorporating his signature style throughout the library. During the library unveiling, Oldham was on hand to help celebrate the new space with students, teachers, and community members and hosted an art activity with the students at P.S. 21.

"Reading has been a true passion of mine from a very young age, and the library was always a special place for me to go," said Oldham. "I am happy to have teamed up with Target to create a space that cultivates imagination and nurtures a love of reading. With this new library, I want kids to learn something in a space they can enjoy."

The new library at P.S. 21 is one of two schools in the New York City-area receiving a renovated library. The other school is P.S. 360 in the Bronx. Each library will feature 2,000 new books, furniture, carpet, and shelves, plus a complete technology upgrade, including new iPads. The program also provides seven new books for each student to take home following the unveiling celebration.

"The new library and food pantry are amazing gifts for our school and our students," said Gina Moreno, principal of P.S. 21. "Thanks to Target and The Heart of America Foundation, our students have the resources they need to feel inspired and ready to learn when they walk through our school doors."

“At Target, we understand that a quality education is integral to the success of a child’s future,” said Laysha Ward, president of community relations, Target. “Through the Target School Library Makeover program, we aim to pave a path to graduation for more U.S. students by equipping them with the resources they need to excel in the classroom and beyond.”

In an effort to combat hunger and its impact on learning, the Target Meals for Minds food pantry will provide monthly distributions of fresh produce and staple foods to students and their families. The food pantry is made possible through a partnership with the Food Bank for New York City.

“Since 2007, our partnership with the Target School Library Makeover program has helped to turn more than 100 dilapidated libraries into vibrant centers of learning,” said Angie Halamandaris, president and co-founder of The Heart of America Foundation. “This year, we are proud to continue our partnership with Target. By revitalizing 32 school libraries across the country, we are helping to create new spaces that inspire students, parents, and community members to love reading.”