Bring Bilingual Books & Materials to Children 0-8

As Raising A Reader embarks on 2015 the profound impact of donors on our work is more clear than ever before.

Our latest STEM fundraiser (currently half way to goal!) is just one perfect example of the power of donors to generate real change.

Spotlight on Monterey County, California 
Another fantastic example is in Monterey County California, where a generous private donation helped launch Raising A Reader in local communities five years ago. Focusing on cities with low incomes and high literacy need Raising A Reader has grown each year since its inception in Monterey County in 2010 thanks to the continued generosity of local grantmakers and community foundations.

As a result of this support, Raising A Reader has reached a total of 6,100 children and families since 2010 in the cities of Salinas, Watsonville, King City and Seaside.

At 100+ books shared per child each year – that’s a lot of books in the hands of children who really need them!

In the photos you can see some of the children who have benefitted from Raising A Reader. These children are graduating from the program with their very own blue book bags to take home with them, filled with books from the Monterey Public Library where they've just signed up as members.

Recognizing the life changing possibilities of families developing home reading habits and the life-long impact of early literacy development on children and their families, visionary donors have been founding and piloting new Raising A Reader programs since the beginning 15 years ago.

As a supporter you are part of this journey!

Thank you as always for your visionary support of children and families whose lives will be changed exponentially thanks to your generosity, through the simple habit of sharing books together. 

Yours in book sharing, 
The Raising A Reader Team

Some photos from Monterey County, California:

Let us start by offering a heartfelt thank you to all of you who joined us with a donation over the holiday season. Thanks to an overwhelming show of support from each of you we starting 2015 strong, and ready to share the vital gift of literacy with even more children and families this year.

STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Math: the vital new Raising A Reader program

In 2015 Raising A Reader will launch a new STEM (science, technology, engineering & math) program for pre-K and Kindergarten children in low-income schools. Thanks to our STEM fundraiser over the Holiday season to enable 100 disadvantaged children access to this new program we have already begun talking to schools in California to launch a pilot at the beginning of the school year.

The support for this vital program has been nothing short of overwhelming!

By introducing STEM concepts at this early stage in each child’s development we can truly combat disadvantages in these fields. We will also introduce families – parents, caregivers and even siblings, cousins and extended family – to the importance of sharing in their child’s learning through reading together.

A generous local Silicon Valley-based corporation has pledged to also contribute to this pilot program in 2015. As a result we will be able to reach more than 300 children in our first year.

And this is just the beginning!

Thank you again for enabling Raising A Reader to start the new year strong.

I look forward to keeping you updated on STEM and similar developments as Raising A Reader continues to improve pathways and change lives through book sharing and your generosity!

With sincere gratitude, 
The Raising A Reader Team

Links:

• Find a Raising A Reader program near you!