STEM Literacy for 100 Disadvantaged children

I want to share with you this story we heard from a Mom at Avery County Smart Start in North Carolina.

Her daughter had no interest in reading. In fact, if her Mom pulled out a book to read the little girl would take it and put it right back on the shelf. In August, having participated in Raising A Reader for a few months, the little girl’s Mom had a fantastic story to tell.

”My daughter would actually pick up her red book bag, bring it to me and pull out the books to read. For the first time we would sit on her bed, cuddle and read together.”

What happened next brought this Mom to tears. Her husband, who had never read with his daughter before, joined them in their nightly reading routines so they could share books together as a family. This Mom called it a “special family moment” and she was so excited she had to tell the teachers at Avery Smart Start the very next day.

Raising A Reader’s little red book bag has helped more than one million families develop, practice, and maintain the habit of sharing books.

Thanks to your support we are reaching more and more children each year and continue to develop innovative programs such as your own Raising A Reader With STEM.

Thank you for all that you do to support child literacy through Raising A Reader!

You truly are changing the lives of children and families in need.

Yours in book sharing
Olivia and the Raising A Reader Team

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 are able to begin 2015 strong and ready to share the vital gift of literacy with even more children and families this year.

STEM: Your visionary contribution to a vital new program

Even more good news! The response to our STEM fundraiser to enable 100 disadvantaged children access to our new STEM program has been nothing short of overwhelming!

As a result we have begun planning with schools in California to deliver the first Raising A Reader With STEM programs to pre-K and Kindergarten children in local low-income schools – children and families who absolutely need these programs the most.

By introducing STEM concepts – sciences, technology, engineering and math – 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 contribute to this pilot program in California. 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 your helping us start the New Year strong. I look forward to keeping you posted as the STEM pilot progresses.

Yours in book sharing,
Olivia