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History Girls scaled 3 programs hosted by the Alabama Humanities Foundation that enrich our state — What better way to give back than by supporting programs that educate and enrich our youth? Photo via AHF

One week from today is Giving Tuesday, Birmingham! If you haven’t decided how to celebrate quite yet, we’ve got the perfect solution. The Alabama Humanities Foundation hosts and sponsors programs all aimed at enriching our state. Get an inside look at where those vital donations go!

Why Give to the Alabama Humanities Foundation?

82b1053da32d43c4b0ff7c6070cbd4bf 3 programs hosted by the Alabama Humanities Foundation that enrich our state — Alabama History Day students participate in a “Parade of States” prior to the awards ceremony, a National History Day tradition. Photo via AHF

The Alabama Humanities Foundation does a whole lot of good work in our state. Everything from educating educators, to funding classroom programs, to hosting seminars and forums, to granting state-wide financial support for humanities-based events enjoyed by over 1.3 million people in 2018.

Read all about the Foundation, their mission, and their work.

When you donate to the Alabama Humanities Foundation, you’re investing in Alabama and in its future. Keep reading to learn about three of their many programs that enrich and advance our state.

1. Prime Time Family Reading Time

Prime Time Reading 1 3 programs hosted by the Alabama Humanities Foundation that enrich our state — Prime Time is the fastest-growing program at AHF. They increased their state-wide program sites from four 2018 to twelve in 2019. Photo via AHF

Prime Time Family Reading Time is a humanities-focused program designed to engage families and their children in reading and discussion. Prime Time models strategies for family bonding through literature at home, and builds the foundation for a lifelong love of reading.

A storyteller reads beautifully illustrated, award-winning children’s books that consist of culturally diverse stories from around the world. They span fairy tales, folk tales, fables, historical accounts, and more.

Each Prime Time site receives a set of children’s books to use in their program. Each participant is given a copy of every book to build a home library. An average of 15 books are given to each child.

Another wonderful aspect of this program is the free meal provided to all participants at each meeting.

2. Alabama History Day

Winner Group Pic 3 programs hosted by the Alabama Humanities Foundation that enrich our state — AHF supported 31 Alabama students who advanced to National History Day in Washington, D.C in 2019. Photo via AHF

Alabama History Day is a state-level affiliate of National History Day. This year-long academic program focuses on historical research, interpretation, and creative expression for 6th-12th grade students.

Students choose a topic related to an annual theme and then conduct research as historians. Students look through libraries, archives and museums, conduct oral history interviews, and visit historic sites in exploration of their chosen topic.

The experience culminates in a statewide contest at which the students present their work in one of five ways:

paper
exhibit
performance
documentary
website

Finalists in the state-wide completion advance to the annual national competition near the nation’s capital in June.

3. MAKING ALABAMA

Making AL picture for postcard 3 programs hosted by the Alabama Humanities Foundation that enrich our state — At the end of 2018, *Making Alabama* visited 33 counties, educating 90,000 viewers on the history of our great state. The exhibit visited the remaining 34 counties in Alabama in 2019 with audiences exceeding 100,000 viewers! Photo via AHF

Making Alabama: A Bicentennial Traveling Exhibit began its journey in March 2018 and is traveling to all 67 counties across Alabama.

Making Alabama consists of artistic panels depicting eight periods of Alabama’s history and people who played prominent roles in that history. Each kiosk has an interactive computer tablet that allows attendees to delve deeper into those periods of history.

This unforgettable exhibit tells the story of how each community played an important part in making Alabama a state. Making Alabama will continue its state tour throughout 2019 as we commemorate the 200th anniversary of Alabama’s statehood.