MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. – Clearwave Fiber and The Early Learning Coalition of Brevard (ELC Brevard), held a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new Little Free Library on Oct. 20 at the Brevard Veterans Memorial Center. This milestone marks the Coalition’s first Little Free Library in Merritt Island and the 11th installation across Brevard County since 2023.
“At Clearwave Fiber, we believe that strong communities are built on both connection and knowledge. By donating a Little Free Library to the Brevard Veterans Memorial Center, we’re supporting literacy and lifelong learning,” said Clearwave Fiber CEO David Armistead. “Just as our Fiber Internet empowers people with access to information, we hope this library inspires curiosity, reading and community engagement for generations to come.”
Clearwave Fiber’s commitment to literacy stems from its broader mission to bridge the digital divide and empower communities. The company recognizes that access to high-speed Internet alone is not enough—people also need the skills and resources to use that access meaningfully. By supporting literacy initiatives, Clearwave Fiber helps ensure that individuals, especially children, are equipped to thrive in a digital world.
This project is part of ELC Brevard’s Soar By Four initiative, a community based/family focused multi-faceted approach to provide educational programming and resources, encouraging community involvement and building awareness to increase Brevard County’s Voluntary PreKindergarten (VPK) enrollment.
“Early and easy access to books builds the foundation for a lifetime of learning and helps us move closer to our vision that every Brevard child starts school prepared to succeed,” said ELC Brevard Communications Specialist Aubree Williams. “Little Free Libraries make it easy for families to discover the joy of reading together and ensure that every child has access to books – no matter where they live – thanks to the generous support of our sponsor, Clearwave Fiber.”
Children from Launch Learning Preschool participated in the event, placing the first books – signed by attendees – into the library. They each received a book and Clearwave Fiber bookmark to take home, plus a certificate of participation.
“We believe that when young people are given the opportunity to learn and explore, and they have access to the tools and information they need to support them in those endeavors, they unlock the doors to their future,” said Clearwave Fiber Senior Vice President of Marketing Shelley Hallier, who officially cut the ribbon. “Literacy is foundational to education, economic opportunity and civic participation.”
With 11 Little Free Libraries now established throughout Brevard County, ELC Brevard continues to advance its mission of promoting literacy and school readiness by removing barriers to access in “book desert areas.” The Brevard Veterans Memorial Center was an ideal site to choose for the new library.
“We were excited when approached by the Early Learning Coalition and learned about their Soar By Four goals for the children in our community. The goals align with our mission of maintaining a first-class Military History Museum and Library to teach the public of our historical past. We entertain many field trips to our museum from the public and private schools and do our best to educate our youth,” said President of the Brevard Veterans Memorial Center Dean Schaff. “The Little Free Library is a perfect fit for our park with its location near the pavilion and the playground and aligns with our goals of reaching out to the youth of our community.”
Families and individuals visiting the center or nearby recreational areas now can borrow, exchange and share books at no cost – both inside in the museum library and at the new Little Free Library outside, adjacent to the children’s playground. For a full listing of Little Free Libraries, visit the Soar By Four landing page by clicking here.
The Early Learning Coalition of Brevard County, Inc. is a multi-service agency dedicated to helping children develop skills that they will need to be successful in school and life. The agency’s focus is on high-quality school readiness opportunities for all children and their families, understanding that it is in the first years of life that a child’s future educational success is determined and the critical role of parents as their child’s first and most important teacher.
