Mary McLeod Bethune Foundation Events

Founder’s Day

October 3, 1904, Mrs. Mary McLeod Bethune started the Daytona Literary and Industrial School for the Training of Negro Girls with 1.50 and faith in God. Each year we honor our founder for her tenacity and courage.

Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune’s Birthday

Every year on July 10th the community of Daytona Beach gathers in honor of the birth of the founder of Bethune-Cookman University. This tradition of celebration and remembrance brings together people from all walks of life to pay homage to the daughter of enslaved parents who rose to become known as “First Lady of Negro America.”

Books and Bears

“The whole world opened to me when I learned to read” –Dr. Mary Mcleod Bethune

We invite you to join us for the Bethune-Cookman University Reading Initiative Program as we host "Books and Bears” on the campus of the university in Swisher Library. The program invites local children between the ages of 4 and 11 to read books, make arts/crafts and enjoy refreshments. This initiative seeks to increase community engagement, enhance early reading skills and promote the use of library resource materials. The program is a partnership between the B-CU Swisher Library, the Bethune Foundation and the B-CU School of Education.

Upcoming dates for "Books and Bears":

September 15, 2018
October 20, 2018
November 17, 2018
December 15, 2018
January 19, 2019
February 16, 2019
March 16, 2019
April 20, 2019

Located in the Swisher Library from 10:00 am -12:00 pm