Reading to Kids: Inspiring Children with a Love of Reading

Dedicated to inspiring underprivileged children with a love to read, Reading to Kids is a grassroots organization that works to better children’s lives and enhancing their opportunities for success in the future.

Reading to Kids gathers over 850 children and over 360 volunteers at reading clubs the second Saturday of each month spread over 7 different locations. Volunteers read aloud to children while parents receive training on how to make reading an important part of their child’s education. Since 60% of all low-income homes do not have age-appropriate reading materials for their children, Reading to Kids donates books at the end of each reading club to kids, teachers and school libraries.

A Positive Impact on Child Education

Reading to Kids has given over 93,700 books to children who attend reading clubs, almost 17,000 hardcover books to libraries, and 107,900 hours spend reading to kids in a little over a decade.

Their goals are simple: to promote reading skills in elementary school children, to develop library resources, to give children books to read at home, to offer rewarding opportunities, and to bring the “Reading Club” program to elementary schools. Children who live in urban areas of Los Angeles do not have as much access to safe recreational areas, and have limited access to practice proficient English. This at-risk child population is the focus of Reading to Kids.

Impact the Children in Your Area

Reading to Kids survives with the help of volunteers. You can be a part of operational duties, become a part of the committee, or volunteer as a reader. From volunteer opportunities to internships to the Reading to Kids taskforce, there is a lot of information where you can learn about the Saturday reading clubs, or take a bigger part in the organization.

You can also donate today to Reading to Kids.

The Wonder of Reading: Building Relationships to Better Education

208 libraries renovated. 5,500 literacy mentors trained. 130,000 children served. The Wonder of Reading is a non profit charity that works to promote literacy among children in Los Angeles. They work alongside the public school districts in Los Angeles to bring together the community on the district and state levels.

With school library renovation programs, library book programs, literacy grants, volunteer reading programs, family reading programs, visiting author programs, and a principals’ forum, the Wonder of Reading has been extremely successful in providing services to public schools and other under-funded programs that promote literacy.

Making Up for Where Public Schools Lack

California ranks 47th in the country in 4th grade reading skills.

70% of public school fourth graders cannot read at grade level in the United States.

55% of California 4th graders in public school failed to meet grade level standards in the 2007 standardized reading assessment.

In 2008, only 38% of Los Angeles fifth graders scored high enough on California Language Arts tests to qualify to enter into the sixth grade.

76% of fourth graders in California are below proficient readers. 46% are below basic.

California ranks 50th among all states in student-librarian ratios.

The Wonder of Reading is working to make up for the lack of funding and attention spend on elementary-school-aged children. Literacy is not being promoted as much as it should be in public schools. The Wonder of Reading wants to turn these statistics around and give each child a chance at a good education to better their lives in the future.

Promote Literacy: Give to the Wonder of Reading

Donate today to the Wonder of Reading. For every $10,000 raised, the Wonder of Reading will be able to renovate an entire library filled with books to promote literacy. You can mail your donation to Wonder of Reading, 5371 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 210, Los Angeles, CA 90036.

Join their mailing list by emailing info@wonderofreading.org or calling 323-634-7109. Their Tax ID is #95-4484325.

In order to become a volunteer reading partner for an elementary school nearby, contact April Wind at 323-634-7111.

 

Library Foundation of Los Angeles: Supporting the L.A. Public Library

The Library Foundation of Los Angeles works to provide funding for the Los Angeles Public Library through fundraising, advocacy and programs that promote education and awareness of the Library’s value in our community. The Library Foundation makes up where City funding lacks, providing a center for literary and cultural learning.

The Importance of Public Libraries

The National Institute for Literacy reported that more than 20% of adults read at or below a 5th grade reading level, which is much lower than the level needed to earn living wages. Over 40 million Americans ages 16 and older have high literacy needs.

• 43% of people with low literacy skills live in poverty
• 70% of people with low literacy skills have no full or part time job.
• Workers who do not have a high school diploma earn a mean monthly income of $452 whereas people with a college degree earn $1,829 monthly.

adult literacy: using printed and written information to function in society, to achieve one’s goals, and to develop one’s knowledge and potential.

Through emphasizing the importance of the Los Angeles Public Library and ameliorating the resources and technology available, we can counter the growing epidemic of illiteracy among the adult population.

Save the Los Angeles Public Library

You can join the Library Foundation of Los Angeles through different levels of membership to take a hands on approach to saving public libraries. You can also volunteer.

You can also give back through donating: create an endowment, name a collection or a program, underwrite an event or exhibition, or make a tribute gift in honor of a loved one or a colleague. For more information contact the Foundation at info@lfla.org or at 213.228.7500.

LARP Literacy Council: A Response to Illiteracy in Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Reading Project (LARP) Literacy Council is a network of volunteer citizens to counter the rising illiteracy in Los Angeles. They promote awareness of the need for local involvement to eradicate illiteracy, and promote the expansion of literacy programs in Los Angeles.

Formed in 1986, LARP was organized as a support group for the Library Adult Reading Project of the Los Angeles Public Library. LARP assists public library staff by providing financial support for expansion. They primarily work in the area of family literacy through supporting preschool programs beyond the Library Department. They have no paid staff – it is an all-volunteer organization.

Sponsored Storytellers to Teach Preschoolers

Yvette Brandy, Barbara Wong, Kathleen Zundell, Ellaraino, and Sylvia Valezquez Lawrence are five sponsored storytellers that visit preschools two times per year to read books to children and teach the preschool staff how to tell stories. As a part of the Preschool Enrichment Program, this helps children to develop their imaginations and educators to know the most effective ways to promote literacy.

Contribute to LARP

The LARP is comprised completely of volunteers, so they are dependent on generous donations. You can mail a tax-deductible donation to the LARP Literacy Council at:

LARP Literacy Council
c/o 3500-189 W. Manchester Blvd.
Inglewood, CA 90305

Make sure to include in the package your name, address, city, state, zip code, email address, and phone number.