Dear Friends, The coronavirus pandemic has changed life as we know it and continues to create challenges and opportunities for connection and inspiration. It is more important than ever for parents to hold their children close and assure them that they are safe and loved. Families find comfort and connection through their daily reading routines, and reading aloud together fosters healthy brain development and builds the vocabulary and language skills necessary for school success. For the past 16 years, Raising A Reader has partnered with local schools, libraries, and parents to foster a love of books and literacy in more than 10,000 young children. Families who participate in our programs spend 30-60% more time reading together, and children arrive at kindergarten ready to learn. In these unprecedented times, Raising A Reader is adapting programs and pursuing collaborative partnerships to reach at-risk families with young children – at home, online, and in school. We continue to empower parents by providing high-quality reading resources to ensure that children do not fall into the widening educational gap during the pandemic. Thanks to our generous donors’ support, Raising A Reader has been able to respond to our families’ and communities’ evolving needs. For this, we are deeply grateful. We wish health, peace, and joy for you and your loved ones in the coming days. No matter what may come our way, we hope you find wonder and comfort between the pages of your well-loved favorites, as well as new books you’ve yet to discover. Yours truly, Cindy Blachly and the Raising A Reader Team The RAR Team at a socially distanced meeting earlier this year.
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