Across Prince George’s County, many school buildings are showing their age...and libraries that once buzzed with energy have slowly faded into tired, outdated spaces. Yet this year, something remarkable began happening inside those worn walls. In their place, new life started to bloom.
The spark came from someone who once sat in these very classrooms — a graduate of Eleanor Roosevelt High School who grew up in the county and never forgot what it meant to learn in a place that didn’t always have enough. Now, through the Pull Up Fund and a donation to the nonprofit Heart of America, this anonymous benefactor is helping transform 47 school libraries, one vibrant space at a time.
Andrew Jackson Academy in District Heights was among the first to feel the change. The library was barely functioning. However, this fall...Heart of America redesigned the space from the ground up. The new library is more than beautiful; it’s filled with opportunity. There’s a 3D printer, a poster maker, and high-tech tools to help students imagine, create, and explore.
Across the county, each library is becoming its own kind of haven — some shaped around STEM and STEAM, others built as collaborative literacy hubs. Every design, every quote on the wall is meant to remind students that their dreams matter today, not years from now.
And perhaps the most touching part is knowing it all began with someone who quietly wanted to give back to the community that raised them. Their generosity is carving new paths for thousands of children — one bright, welcoming library at a time.