Rifsocal Children S Literacy Reading Is Fundamental

Leo Migdal

-Dec 12, 2025, 7:21 AM

rifsocal children s literacy reading is fundamental

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 Fundamental of Southern California is the country’s largest RIF program. Our work to close the

opportunity gap one book at a time empowers young minds to embrace the world of reading and develop a As of our 50th anniversary in 2022, we had Today we’d like to introduce you to Carol Henault. Carol, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today. Who would predict a Cornell University biochemistry major would end up as the Executive Director of a children’s literacy nonprofit – certainly not me.

But when I think back, my earliest memories are filled with books – The Black Stallion, Fury, Bobbsey Twins, Lassie, My Friend Flicka, Black Beauty, National Velvet, Nancy Drew, Little Women. Even then, I escaped into books – they filled my life. So, not so surprising I landed where I did. Thirty years after college, I found myself with two teenage daughters, ready – and needing – to go back to work to continue my career. But I soon realized that biochemical research and technology had passed me by. I would have to go back to school to catch up – and this wasn’t plausible as I needed a job ASAP.

And then, serendipitously, I stumbled into my first nonprofit job working with kids – helping people – and suddenly felt filled with fresh energy and a flourishing passion. And I thought – what if I could combine my love for books with helping kids? Being the Executive Director of Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California – better known as RIFSoCal – for the past 15 years has been, and IS, my dream come true. It is one of the most important jobs I could have and every day, when I walk into our warehouse on the way to my office, all I smell are BOOKS – all I... “So Many Books, So Little Time” is painted on my office door, and my book, almost always with me, is on my table – ready in case I have a few minutes to read. I’m happy to admit my book is my security blanket.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you? Thirty years after college, I found myself with two teenage daughters, ready – and needing – to go back to work to continue my career. But I soon realized that biochemical research and technology had passed me by. I would have to go back to school to catch up – and this wasn’t plausible as I needed a job ASAP. And then, serendipitously, I stumbled into my first nonprofit job working with kids – helping people – and suddenly felt filled with fresh energy and a flourishing passion.

Please tell us about Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California (RIFSoCal). In our 47-year history RIFSoCal has distributed 4.7M books and served 1.6M children! RIFSoCal is the largest childhood literacy nonprofit in our region. We currently partner with 307 high poverty preschools, elementary and middle schools, Head Start programs and community-based organizations throughout Los Angeles and Orange Counties. This year alone we will serve over 60,000 disadvantaged children, providing them with almost 200,000 new books to build their home libraries. Children experience the wonder of three Motivational Reading Events each year that celebrate literacy, bring together school, parents and community, and surround them with a growing certainty that literacy really must be important.

At the conclusion of each event, children choose a brand-new book – many for the first time, to take home and keep as their own – a book to discover the magic of reading... What a wonderful gift we give them! 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 of Southern California is having an enormous impact on children,

families, and communities. Believing that the achievement of all children must matter to all of us, we work in economically disadvantaged Young children go through a methodical journey when learning how to read. First comes the introduction to language through the sounds of parents and caregivers and then eventually children start to speak their first words and later, sentences.

This is called emerging literacy and it is the foundation of all literacy. The emerging literacy phase is followed by the simultaneous development of reading and writing skills. Access to reading materials and exercises is critical during this time. Reading is Fundamental (RIF) is one organization that supports access by providing books and lessons to aide children in their literacy journey. Built to provide education and resources, RIF mobilizes materials, volunteers, and community organizations with the fundamental belief that every child can read and has the right to support. At present, RIF has distributed “over 422 million books and impacted the lives of more than 100 million children in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.” RIF also provides online resources in addition to...

RIF is for everyone. Their online resources are available to parents and teachers alike, and their programs are utilized by libraries, Head Start and more programs across the country. You can find both parent and teacher resources on their website. Content includes: RIF offers various ways to utilize their materials including online and app-based resources. Here are three methods of support for parents and teachers.

Reading begins with play! When children are small, they naturally participate in behaviors and initiate activities that become the foundation for reading. And while they may not be requesting their favorite books yet, their very first years are a time for song, make-believe, storytelling, hands on crafts, matching and pattern games. There is no shortage of ideas when it comes to building emerging literacy skills so happy reading, and the beginnings thereof!

Rifsocal Children S Literacy Reading Is Fundamental

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