Preschool grant money will pay for books, theater, training

Twelve South Hampton Roads nonprofits that work with preschoolers have been chosen to receive $200,000 in grants.

The money is from a group of 60 philanthropists and civic leaders who pooled donations through the Hampton Roads Community Foundation. The group chooses a different cause each year.

The recipients of the $7,400 to $25,000 grants are the Chesapeake Health Investment Program, the Children’s Center, Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, Hurrah Players, Places & Programs for Children, the Portsmouth Schools Foundation, Reaching Our Communities, Smart Beginnings South Hampton Roads, Square One, Suffolk Early Childhood Development Commission, The Up Center and WHRO.

The funds will support licensing, rating and training programs for child care providers, sponsor children who attend Children’s Harbor centers, provide books pediatricians can give to parents, expand Head Start and pay for summer reading camps, musical theater programs and toddler and parent education.