FALL 2014
Letter from the Executive Director
BY: DR. GABRIELLE MILLER
Earlier this year Charles Duhigg published a book entitled The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do In Life and In Business. In it he describes the incredible power habits have to shape the way we behave and the transformational changes habits can have on our communities and our lives.
It is not only a wonderfully interesting book but it validates Raising A Reader’s fifteen year effort to help families develop, practice and maintain the home literacy habits that are essential for children’s success. We are proud to say that with the help of energized affiliates more than one million families have done just that—developed the habit of sharing books. We are also proud of the unsung heroes—our partners—who make this work possible.
Partners, like Masons of California, whose profound commitment to communities and families through Raising A Reader yielded $1.3M in funding over the last three years. Their support enabled over 14,000 children at the very highest risk for educational failure in California to have the chance to build home literacy routines they might not otherwise have had the opportunity to develop. New partners are also recognizing Raising A Reader’s power to impact lives. One example: Hanna Andersson, whose support for families and literacy will shine brightly beginning in August and through the entire Holiday season. Encouraging families to share books at bedtime, 15% of the profits from the sales of their highly successful line of children’s pajamas will support Raising A Reader, so that many more children can experience the warmth and joy of a nightly reading routine.
Developing habits sounds simple but we all know it’s not. We all also know that when we have help, we’re a lot more likely to be successful. Let’s continue to recognize our role in helping families understand that the simple habit of sharing books has the power to change a child’s life.
Gabrielle
2014 National Institute: Tampa, Florida
The RAR National Office is hosting the 2014 National Coordinator Institute from Monday, September 29-Tuesday, September 30th In Tampa, Florida! This year, the National Coordinator Institute will focus on Raising A Reader as an “Innovative Approach to Literacy.â€
The event will bring together Affiliates from across the nation for a day of professional development, networking and personal growth.
Highlights for this year include:
- Welcome Reception
- Keynote
- Innovative Approach to Literacy Panel
- Digital Literacy Panel
- Engaging Workshops
New Partnership: Hanna Andersson
Beginning August through the end of 2014 Hanna Andersson will donate 15% of profits from all sales of organic striped long john pajamas to Raising A Reader.
President and CEO of Hanna Andersson Adam Stone said of the partnership, “Raising A Reader works tirelessly to provide young children with the literacy skills necessary for success in school and in life. We are passionate about kids and reading, and are happy to be able to involve our customers and employees as Hanna helps make a difference in the lives of children across the country.â€
BOOK REVIEW
YOKO WRITES HER NAME
BY: ROSEMARY WELLS
As children and families head back to school this fall, Yoko Writes Her Name written by Rosemary Wells is a wonderful book to share together.
The story centers around a little Japanese cat named Yoko who just learned how to write her name in Japanese. She is excited about her first day of school but once she starts her classmates begin teasing her that she is not going to graduate because she does not know how to read and write in English. Learn More
CURRENT PARTNERS
Always Dream Foundation
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Bank of the West
Bernard A. Newcomb Foundation
Bezos Family Foundation
California Masonic Foundation
Capital One Financial Corporation
Chapman Foundation
Community Foundation for Monterey County
Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation
GlobalGiving Foundation
Hanna Andersson
Harden Foundation
W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Long Beach Comic Con
Masons of Oregon
Monterey Peninsula Foundation
Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation
Pebble Beach co. Foundation
Sally and Rick Jones Family Fund
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Sobrato Family Foundation
Swagelok
T. Rowe Price
Target
Harry & Jeannette Weinberg Foundation
Wright Family Foundation