Hartford Business Journal

www.HartfordBusiness.com • November 13, 2018 • GIVING GUIDE • Hartford Business Journal 39 ABOUT US Year established: 2000 Annual revenues: $838,160 Total number of employees: 2 full-time; 7 part-time GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA(S) Statewide TOP FUNDING AND BOOK DONATION SOURCES Family Foundations: 25% Corporations & Businesses: 18% Foundations: 16% Individuals: 16% Organizations/Nonprofits: 10% Hospitals & Hospital Auxiliaries: 9% Earned Income: 6% Read to Grow has given more than 1.8 million books to over 1.2 million people in Connecticut since the year 2000. We operate statewide with three programs: Books for Babies, Books for Kids, and the new Early Steps to School Success-New Haven. Along with free books, we provide workshops and other early childhood literacy information to families, particularly those living at-risk. Annually our programs distribute more than 180,000 children's books and literacy information: • at 8 community health centers, for pregnant women to build home libraries before their babies are born. • at 14 hospitals, where families of all newborns receive our literacy packets. • at 33 Book Places set up at other nonprofits, for their clients and residents in the communities. • through 14 Partnerships, which include collaborations with Connecticut Food Bank, Nurturing Families Network and The Diaper Bank. • in direct response to requests from families, teachers, doctors, childcare providers, and community groups and services. • through a new partnership with Save the Children called Early Steps to School Success, which promotes early literacy and kindergarten preparedness among New Haven's at-risk children, newborn to age 5. GIVING OPPORTUNITIES In a new opportunity, businesses and corporations are invited to sponsor Read to Grow for three years. These special sponsorships will underpin our services. Annually, each sponsor will be announced in a press release, through our social media and email marketing, and in our two yearly newsletters. During the entirety of a sponsorship, the name of the business/corporation and logo will appear on our website homepage. Other ways to provide essential support: • donate through our website. (At readtogrow.org, click DONATE on the homepage.) • ask for our winter appeal mailing. • ask to receive our two annual newsletters, spring and fall. • donate gently used children's books. • organize a book drive. For more information, call: 203.488.6800, or email: readtogrow@readtogrow.org. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Lending hands are always welcomed. In fact, we rely on more than 100 dedicated volunteers to keep our services running. • More than 55 women — many retired teachers — volunteer on the maternity units of our 14 partner hospitals. They visit and talk with mothers of newborns about the free literacy packets they receive, their babies' rapid brain development, and everyday ways to encourage their children's early language skills. • About 45 volunteers come weekly to our office and warehouse in Branford. They do a range of tasks that include data collection, mailings, cleaning and sorting of used books, and packing books for deliveries. Treasurer Jeff Hartmann The Hartmann Group Alicia Caraballo Junta for Progressive Action Lori Church Joshua Copel, M.D. Yale School of Medicine Joanne Cunard, Ph.D. University of Saint Joseph Mary Kay Curtiss Blum, Shapiro & Company Jennifer Groves Fusco, Esq. Updike, Kelly & Spellacy Carla M. Horwitz, Ed.D. Yale University Lisa Maass Citizens Bank Bonnie Patten Truth in Advertising Sandra Trevino Yale University Executive Director Kyn Tolson Board Chair Roxanne J. Coady R.J. Julia Booksellers Read to Grow 53 School Ground Road, Branford, CT 06405 | 203-488-6800 www.readtogrow.org OUR MISSION: To promote language skills and literacy for children, beginning at birth, and to support parents as their babies' first teachers. OUR VISION: Every family — regardless of income and primary language — will understand the critical importance of early childhood literacy and will take an active role in their child's reading development. All children in Connecticut will have books of their own. BOARD OF DIRECTORS R ead to Grow has been a part of our program here at Manchester Memorial Hospital for a number of years now. It is such a well-loved program. The looks on our patients' faces when they receive a new book to read to their baby is priceless. When we present these new books to new families, we educate them on the importance of reading to their babies, even as newborns. Jaclyn Duskocy , Clincial Nurse Manager, Family Birthing Center, Manchester Memorial Hospital T he Book Place at Mayberry Family Resource Center has been a valuable asset to our community that has been incredibly well received. Our center is located in an area that has a high level of poverty. Families who otherwise would never have the opportunity to create a reading library for their children are thrilled. … It's not unusual to see children so excited to get their own books that they will sit down and begin to read immediately. Sharon Walker , Family Resource Center Engagement Coordinator, Mayberry School, East Hartford

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