Spring 2015

Letter from the Executive Director

by: Dr. Gabrielle Miller

As you can see, I have the best job in the world. Often when I share that belief with colleagues, they tell me I have their ‘dream job.’ They wish they could get out of the ‘rat race’ and work for a nonprofit ….where life is so much easier.

At this point I quickly explain that nothing could be further from the truth. The challenges of a nonprofit are no less rigorous, they are just different. Every nonprofit is not only challenged to achieve its mission with integrity and demonstrable impact; but secure the funds to do the work before it can even start.

And that’s where partners come in. Partners might be corporations, foundations, implementation agencies, or individuals who believe in our work as passionately as we do—and offer their time, talent and treasure to help us.  Without them, we simply could not secure the resources we need to do our work.

At Raising A Reader, partner support might enable us to develop a new way to engage children and families (e.g., support for a new themed collection of books), it might help us think through and navigate the long-term strategic challenges (e.g., The Rick and Sally Jones Family Foundation and the Bezos Family Foundation), or most amazing of all, it might include individuals like our National Board of Directors and our parent organization, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, which remain committed, through thick and thin, to providing the support that facilitates our ability to reach children and families.

Partnerships are at the heart of a nonprofit’s work. In this issue we proudly highlight the amazing partnerships in Maryland that enabled RAR to grow across the state. Please join us in celebrating this work and considering the partnerships in your community that help (or could help!) strengthen literacy outcomes for children and families through Raising A Reader.

Gabrielle

Raising A Reader in Maryland: Baltimore and Beyond

Raising A Reader launched programs in Baltimore, Maryland in 2012 through grants from a group of committed funders. In partnership with Baltimore City Public Schools and Baltimore City Head Start, Raising A Reader began with 950 children in 34 classrooms. In that same year, RAR was awarded a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Innovative Approaches to Literacy program. This federal funding supported significant expansion in Baltimore. Today, more than 12,000 children and their families now participate annually in RAR in 384 classrooms within Baltimore City Public Schools and four Head Start affiliates in Baltimore. Learn More

Ways to Get Involved

“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.” Parent in North Carolina.

You can support Raising A Reader by being a donor, volunteer, corporate / foundation funder, or advocate for the program. When you join the Raising A Reader family you will build a love of reading and long-term academic success for children and their families.

The generosity of donors across the country enables Raising A Reader to reach more children and families each year. You can make your donation now on our secure site and forever change the life of a child.