A Little More About Reading Is Fundamental of So. California

Mission:  To promote literacy and motivate children to read by building at-home libraries for underserved children in Greater Los Angeles.

Since 1972, Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California (RIFSoCal) has improved literacy by helping children discover the magic of reading for fun.  Using a network of 3,500 volunteers at 200 sites throughout Greater Los Angeles, RIFSoCal annually provides over 165,000 new free books of choice, together with motivational reading activities, to build the home libraries of more than 55,000 children and their families.

Did you know that:
*  60% of kindergarteners in low-income families do not have a single age-appropriate book in their home.
*  90% of children living in poverty in Los Angeles have parents with “low or no” literacy skills.
*  The only behavior measure that correlates significantly with reading scores is the number of books in the home.
*  Reading for pleasure correlates strongly with academic achievement.

It is difficult for many of us to imagine not having the resources to obtain books, but this is the case with so many children RIFSoCal serves. RIFSoCal books are often the first book in the home, becoming the beginning of a personal home library.

With service to Los Angeles County’s most resource-deprived children since 1972 RIFSoCal has witnessed thousands of life-changing moments and received innumerable testimonials from grateful participants. We are now into our second and third generation of RIFSoCal “kids.”

RIFSoCal will build the personal libraries of more than 55,000 children in the greater Los Angeles area in the 2007-2008 program year, distributing over 165,000 new books of choice at almost 200 sites, including Title I public and parochial schools, Head Start programs and community-based organizations.

Would you like to get involved?

Promote literacy by making an online donation to RIFSoCal.

FIND OUT HOW

For those that prefer, you may also mail a check or money order to:

Attn: Carol K. Henault, Executive Director
Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California
7250 Bandini Boulevard,Suite 208
Los Angeles, CA 90040