Reading Is Fundamental

Create reading joy this holiday season in school and at home with two author-led read-alouds to ring in the season. Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) connects children with the joy of reading to spark imaginations and possibilities, putting kids on a path of reading proficiency. Because every child deserves the chance to succeed. Reading Is Fundamental is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Reading Is Fundamental and our partners work to change the trajectory of the alarming U.S. literacy crisis, which creates barriers between our nation’s children and their opportunities.

children in the U.S. cannot read proficiently. Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF) is the oldest and largest non-profit children's literacy organization in the United States. RIF provides books (print and digital) and reading resources to children nationwide with supporting literacy resources for educators, families, and community volunteers. In 1966, while reading to children at a school in Washington, D.C., Margaret McNamara, wife of the United States Secretary of Defense Robert S.

McNamara, was surprised to learn that many of the students did not have any books of their own. With the help of Lynda Johnson Robb[6] and Arthur White,[7] Kathryn Wentzel Lumley was one of the organization's co-founders.[8][9] After early organizational meetings with other educators in D.C., McNamara secured a $150,000 grant from the Ford Foundation to support pilot activities in the District of Columbia throughout 1967, including the launch of a... At the time of McNamara's death in 1981, RIF had provided "more than 3 million poor children with 37 million books."[11] Beginning in the 1970s, RIF began to receive annual federal appropriations which enabled the organization to expand its reach and impact for children in communities nationwide, focusing on at-risk children including those from low-income... Authorized in federal legislation, RIF contracted with the U.S.

Department of Education to administer the National Inexpensive Book Distribution Program[12] for more than 30 years. In 2001, Carol Rasco, the former senior adviser to President Bill Clinton and later United States Secretary of Education Richard Riley, became the president and CEO of RIF, succeeding former Bryant University president William... Trueheart who served in that role from 1997 to 2001.[13] Ruth Graves led the organization from 1975 to 1997.[14][15] In 2011, Congress eliminated congressionally-directed spending and thus federal funding for RIF.[16][17] RIF then began... Your donation attempt encountered a problem. Please refresh the page to try again. You're faster than our page!

Give the page a little longer to finish loading and try your donation again. This assessment, developed by the Irritants for Change, evaluates how a charity listens to and uses feedback from the people meant to ultimately benefit from its mission. Seeking feedback from the people a charity serves makes the nonprofit more responsive and effective. Mailing address for check donations in support of Charity Navigator: Charity Navigator PO Box 5117 Boone, IA 50950 Note: We cannot process checks in support of other nonprofits. Use our Giving Basket to support other organizations through our website. Copyright ©2025 | EIN 13-4148824 | Bridge ID 3108588923

Reading Is Fundamental is committed to a literate America by inspiring a passion for reading among all children, providing quality content to make an impact and engaging communities in the solution to give every... *Ranges calculated below based on payroll deductions from 24-26 total paychecks in a year. “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss In… Now through the beginning of September, students of all ages – from preschool to college – and their teachers will be heading back as a new school year begins.…

As summer draws to a close, students of all ages – from preschool to college – and their teachers are heading back as a new school year… The Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation is proud to support, Reading Is Fundamental, a nation-wide literacy organization dedicated to teaching children both the fundamentals and value of reading. By helping our children learn to read, they will be able to independently begin to read to learn. This important step is critical to producing an educated citizenry, which is a principle mission of the Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation.

RIF strives to make a difference in children’s lives every day through enriching activities that encourage children’s interest in reading. Every child involved with RIF gets to choose and keep new books, at no cost. Some of RIF’s most important work occurs in communities where students are at great risk of educational failure. Here, in Washington, D.C. RIF is actively working to eliminate illiteracy by illuminating and inspiring children to read. Whenever and wherever kids are reading, whether it’s in a school, library, child-care center, Head Start program, park, community center, health clinic, domestic shelter, or at home, RIF is making a significant difference in...

RIF was recognized as the Most Trusted Brand and Brand of the Year in the Youth Non-Profit category in the 2024 Harris Poll EquiTrend Study Children's Center (H.S. Mountain View), Mountain View School District “What an astonishing thing a book is. It's a flat object made from a tree with flexible parts on which are imprinted lots of funny dark squiggles. But one glance at it and you're inside the mind of another person, maybe somebody dead for thousands of years.

Across the millennia, an author is speaking clearly and silently inside your head, directly to you. Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people who never knew each other, citizens of distant epochs. Books break the shackles of time. A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic." Carol Henault, the Executive Director of Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California, speaks with enthusiasm and a sense of delight as she describes her journey in the nonprofit world. Tell Me Another Story, is an inspiring 30-minute overview of diversity in children’s literature that highlights the dedication of intellectual and artistic giants, past and present, whose efforts have uplifted children’s literature, from W.E.B.

Du Bois, Augusta Baker, Pura Belpré and Ezra Jack Keats, to Pat Cummings, Marley Dias, Grace Lin, Christopher Myers, and Andrea Davis Pinkney. It clarifies the enormous need for us to tell our children another, more inclusive story. This is a film you will want to share with your students, colleagues and friends. Reading is often celebrated as a fundamental skill that underpins a person’s ability to learn, communicate, and thrive in society. When someone says "Reading is fundamental," they are emphasizing more than just the basic act of decoding text; they are highlighting the critical role that reading plays in personal development, education, and access to... This phrase underscores the importance of literacy as a cornerstone of a functioning and equitable society, ensuring individuals can navigate the world effectively, make informed decisions, and participate fully in civic life.

The phrase "Reading is fundamental" is often used to stress the essential nature of literacy. It suggests that without the ability to read, individuals face significant barriers that can hinder their social, economic, and personal growth. The statement encapsulates the idea that reading is not just an academic skill but a vital tool for empowerment and opportunity. It also reflects the societal responsibility to promote literacy for all, recognizing that reading opens doors to knowledge, understanding, and participation in the community. Understanding why reading is considered fundamental involves exploring its multifaceted role in both individual lives and society as a whole. Here are some key points:

The phrase "Reading is fundamental" gained prominence through various literacy campaigns and initiatives that aimed to emphasize the importance of literacy in improving individual lives and societal progress. One notable example is the National Reading Campaign in the United States, which highlighted the critical need for early literacy education. The phrase has been adopted by organizations like the "Reading is Fundamental" (RIF), a nonprofit dedicated to promoting reading among children and youth. Historically, literacy was a privilege reserved for the elite, but over time, the recognition of reading as a fundamental human right has grown. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations in 1948, affirms that everyone has the right to education, which inherently includes the right to read and write. This shift underscores the idea that literacy is not just a skill but a vital component of human dignity and freedom.

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