Challenge Grant Issued

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning Issues Challenge Grant to Reach Out and Read Georgia

To inspire and motivate Georgia’s corporations, foundations and donors to give in support of early education.

Atlanta, GA (November 26, 2013) –   Commissioner Bobby Cagle announced  a $25,000 challenge grant from Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning in support of Reach Out and Read Georgia at the Georgia Campaign for Grade Level Reading strategic partnership meeting on Friday in support of the nonprofit’s pediatrics-based early literacy intervention.

“Family engagement is crucial for a child’s success in school. Reach Out and Read Georgia leverages the voices of hundreds of trusted pediatricians who are promoting reading and literacy for our youngest learners by providing books and talking with families about reading aloud to their children. The Reach Out and Read model is research-based and was recently awarded the 2013 Library of Congress Literacy Award - the prestigious David M. Rubenstein Prize - for advancing literacy in the US.  This $25,000 challenge grant is designed to encourage foundations, corporations, and the general public to join in this great effort. It fits perfectly with Governor Nathan Deal's goal of having our children reading at grade level by third grade” said Commissioner Bobby Cagle.

“We are honored to learn of the endorsement of Commissioner Cagle by way of the $25,000 challenge grant. We see this as an opportunity for others to invest in our mission – especially during the upcoming season of giving.  I personally invite any foundation, corporation, or individual who truly cares about improving outcomes for the youngest and most vulnerable children in Georgia to step up and help us meet this challenge” said Amy Erickson, Executive Director of Reach Out and Read Georgia.

Reach Out and Read is a proven intervention, supported by 15 independent, published research studies. During the preschool years, children served by Reach Out and Read score three to six months ahead of their non-Reach Out and Read peers on vocabulary tests, preparing them to start school on target.  

Reach Out and Read’s model includes providing a new, age-appropriate book for each child to take home at every checkup from 6 months through 5 years. Along with the free book for every child, doctors and nurses offer guidance to parents about the importance of reading aloud with their children every day.  Reach Out and Read supports and strengthens families with young children by helping parents understand developmental stages, build routines (like book reading) which reassure children, and develop coping skills essential to families in low income communities.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning to advance our message about the importance of early education.  Our mutual goal is to strengthen families by fostering a love of reading to prepare our youngest for school. These children and families deserve our support. There are 233,000 children in Georgia, under the age of 5 who live in poverty.  My goal is to help prepare them for success in school and life.” said Erickson.

What distinguishes Reach Out and Read from other interventions is that it has a large and growing evidence base. Since 1991, the Reach Out and Read model has been studied by academic investigators in a variety of settings, providing 15 peer-reviewed research studies on the effects of the program. The body of published research supporting the efficacy of the Reach Out and Read model is more extensive than for any other psychosocial intervention in general pediatrics.

Currently, Reach Out and Read Georgia serves nearly 70,000 children in Georgia via 59 clinical locations, including four military bases: Fort Benning, Fort Stewart, Fort Gordon and Robins Air Force Base.  Nationwide, Reach Out and Read doctors and nurses serve 4 million children and their families annually at 5,000 pediatric practices, hospitals, clinics, and health centers in all 50 states, with a focus on centers that serve low-income communities.   In total over 6.2 million books are distributed each year. 

Donors interested in helping meet this challenge grant can click here or may contact Amy Erickson, Executive Director at amy.erickson@reachoutandread.org. 

In September, Reach Out and Read was named the 2013 recipient of The Library of Congress David M. Rubenstein Prize for the organization’s groundbreaking work advancing literacy. To learn more about Reach Out and Read, please visit www.reachoutandred.org. 

For more information on Reach Out and Read, visit www.reachoutandread.org

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