SML Good Neighbors Receives Prestigious Award

From the Library of Congress

SML Good Neighbors receives prestigious award from the Library of Congress.

SML Good Neighbors is delighted to announce that we have been selected as a recipient of a Successful Practice Honoree Award by the Library of Congress, in recognition of our implementation of successful practices in promoting literacy. SML Good Neighbors is one of fifteen organizations from around the globe chosen for this honor. 

We share this award today with you, our volunteers, board members, summer teaching staff interns, supporters, and everyone in between, because you have helped to cultivate and implement our successful literacy practices. This award is a testament to the work we have done together over the last 18 years and will continue for the foreseeable future. Thank you for making SML Good Neighbors an organization worthy of recognition. 

2025 marks the thirteenth year that the Library of Congress Literacy Awards Program has recognized organizations for their outstanding achievements in advancing literacy. Twenty-four organizations were recognized by the program on International Literacy Day, September 8^th:  Four for outstanding contributions to expanding literacy and promoting reading; fifteen for implementation of successful practices in literacy promotion; and five for emerging strategies with significant promise in their approach to literacy.  To celebrate this year’s honorees, the Library of Congress will convene the award recipients for a symposium and recognition event at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., this October.

Since our founding in 2007, SML Good Neighbors has been dedicated to developing Good Neighbors skills and values in children through programs that nourish, educate, and support them while providing life-changing experiences for college students through leadership development internships. During our 18 years, the organization has provided free summer and afterschool programming for thousands of children in Bedford and Franklin County, Virginia; over 100,000 meals for children; 118 internship opportunities for college students; $32,600 in scholarships for students pursuing post-secondary education; and over 65,000 books for local children. This incredible work would not be possible without the generous and altruistic community of supporters here in Smith Mountain Lake; from the students and families we serve, our donors, a working board of directors, dedicated staff, reading buddies, weekend bag packers, committed partners, foundations, churches, and businesses, and everyone in between, we are beyond fortunate.

SML Good Neighbors is pleased to celebrate International Literacy Day and this honor with you, our supporters. Thank you for being the cornerstone of SML Good Neighbors! 

To learn more about the Library of Congress Literacy Awards, please visit https://newsroom.loc.gov/news/library-of-congress-announces-2025-literacy-awards/s/ae2e8f00-0ef0-4efc-98a8-1cb0d3e8bb0b

More about SML Good Neighbors:

SML Good Neighbors is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in Moneta, Virginia. The organization, founded in 2007, provides academic, enrichment, and nutritional programs, free of cost, to students in rising 1st - 6th grades, and scholarships to high school seniors in Franklin and Bedford County, Virginia. They also provide leadership development internships to college students from around the globe. Their mission is to develop Good Neighbors skills and values in children through programs that nourish, educate, and support them while providing life-changing experiences for college students through leadership development internships. 

SML Good Neighbors Summer Educational Programs serve both Bedford and Franklin County, Virginia.