04/29/2025
Greetings everyone.
I know it has been a while since we have posted anything. Apologies for that. Still trucking along on this adventure and still so honored and thrilled to be doing it. It all just takes a bit longer and meanwhile life is happening all around us.
The Summertown HighSchool Awards Ceremony took place last week and Jason Franks represented the library and presented 2 scholarships that evening in honor of Sandy Curtis. His speech moved me to tears and I wanted to share it here so you all can read it!
Here it is…
In the early 2000s, eight women came together—not just for Bible study, but for something even deeper. They gathered for friendship, for faith, and for each other. Week after week, they shared laughter, tears, dreams, fears, and most importantly, their hearts in prayer.
One of those women was Sandy Curtis. Sandy carried a dream with her: to create a library in Summertown where children could fall in love with books, where imagination could run free, and where learning would feel like magic. She brought that dream to every gathering and asked her friends to pray with her about it—and they did.
Eventually, the big questions were asked:
How would you start?
Where would it be located?
How would it be funded?
Where would the books come from?
Sandy's answer was simple: God would provide. And He did.
Sandy approached the District Attorney about placing the library in Gould Park, just down the street from where they met. Gould Park, which legally belongs to the youngest child in Summertown, turned out to be the perfect location for a children’s library. The D.A. agreed—one major hurdle overcome.
She then reached out to local and state officials and discovered available funding opportunities. A former student, who loved Mrs. Sandy, began sending monthly donations. Another major step forward.
Randy Curtis donated a building to house the library. The late Larry Spears, a beloved teacher at Summertown High School, volunteered his expertise and even involved his students to complete the electrical work.
Meanwhile, Sandy dedicated countless hours to the mountains of paperwork needed to establish nonprofit status as a 501(c)(3). Slowly but surely, the dream was becoming reality.
Soon, books began arriving—donations from all directions and from countless people who believed in the vision. In time, all the obstacles were cleared, and the Sandcastle Children’s Library was born.
This library was more than a building; it was a dream fulfilled, a prayer answered, and a castle of imagination and hope—Sandy’s Castle. Here, children discovered the joy of reading, received tutoring help, laughed during story times, and, most importantly, felt seen, safe, and loved.
Sandy's belief, her friends' prayers, and unwavering faith turned a simple dream into a lasting legacy. Today, that legacy continues.
I currently serve on the Board of Directors and as the Treasurer of the Sandcastle Children’s Library. With us now is Sarah Martin, our new Librarian and acting President of the Board. Sarah brings heart, energy, and love to this new chapter, helping to carry forward Sandy’s vision.
Although Sandy passed away last year, we are honored to have members of the Curtis family with us today. In her memory, the Board is committed to revitalizing the library through renovations, fresh ideas, and new activities to ensure that future generations can enjoy everything the library offers.
In keeping with Sandy’s spirit, the Sandcastle Children’s Library is proud to announce two $500 scholarships awarded in her name: one to a young woman and one to a young man, both selected by the staff at Summertown High School.
This year’s scholarship recipients are Shelby Clayton and Lincoln Burleson. Their promise, character, and spirit reflect everything the library was built upon. We are proud of them, we believe in them, and we are excited to see where their journeys take them.
