The holiday season has officially arrived!  We ushered it in with Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Giving Tuesday.  My grandpa - a loveable character who came of age during the depression, lived in a railroad car for a short time when his family lost their home, and went on to build a wonderful life for his family – loved the holiday season.  I can say with certainty he wouldn’t have known what to make of all these “new” days on the calendar, he would have simply said we have entered the season of giving.

At Reading Is Fundamental, we believe the greatest gift you can give a child is the gift of literacy.  While this is our focus all year long, it is especially poignant during this season of giving. Of the 16 million children living in poverty in the U.S., two-thirds don’t have a book to call their own. Without books and literacy resources, these children are falling behind in school, sometimes even dropping out. It’s an endless cycle that impacts the future of our children and our society.

Books matter.  They are the building blocks to a better future. They foster a child’s imagination, expand their understanding of the world, and fuel a lifelong love of learning.  Research shows the impact of putting books in the hands of children.  Access to books:

• Improves children’s reading performance
• Are instrumental in helping children learn
• Causes children to read more and for longer lengths of time
• Produces improved attitudes toward reading and learning

With 25 million children in the U.S. not reading proficiently today, it is more critical than ever to ensure every child has an opportunity to own books, learn how to read, and obtain the fundamental building blocks needed to achieve their potential.

Every year there is a hot new gift for children. Fingerlings and Hatchimals seem to be at the top of that list this year.  I remember the year my son had to have Tickle Me Elmo and my oldest daughter couldn’t survive without an American Girl Doll.  I think my grandpa would agree with me that the hot gift this year should be a gift that gives back – the gift of literacy.

By giving the gift of literacy, we offer children hope for the future.  This holiday season, I ask for your help so we can ensure every child has the fundamental building blocks to be successful in life.

I hope you will join us in our quest so that, together, we can create change and ensure every child can read and succeed!

-Alicia