Thirteen groups, including SAD 15 in Gray and New Gloucester and Jay Adult Education, will share $265,000 to boost literacy among adults and kids.

The competitive grants were awarded by the Barbara Bush Foundation and the Maine Family Literacy Initiative. Former first lady Barbara Bush and Maine first lady Karen Baldacci presented the awards at a ceremony Tuesday in Biddeford.

Ten groups, including those in Berwick, Portland and Winslow, received $25,000 each.

One grant was awarded to Jay Adult and Community Education and SAD 46 in Dexter to improve the literacy of families with young children. Local adult education programs, Androscoggin Early Head Start, the Maine Parent Federation and Literacy Volunteers will help.

Another $25,000 was awarded to SAD 15 to enhance services provided by adult education and the Gray Public Library.

Three other groups received $5,000 each to plan a literacy project. Those were given to the Madawaska school department, the Maine Family Resource Center and SAD 14 in Danforth and SAD 31 in Howland.