Hartford Business Journal

G I V I N G G U I D E 2016 www.HartfordBusiness.com November 22, 2016 • Hartford Business Journal 39 Who We Are Reach Out and Read is an evidence- based, national organization of medical providers who provide new books to children and literacy advice to parents at pediatric well-child visits. Focusing on low-income families, medical providers empower parents as their children's first teachers to prepare them to enter kindergarten at grade level, ready to read and succeed in school and in life. How We Do It Through 73 clinical locations in Connecticut, Reach Out and Read pediatricians provide parents with personalized, age-appropriate advice about reading at every well-child visit from newborn through 5 years, along with a new book for the child starting at the 6 month visit. We reach nearly 40,000 children and give out 80,000 new books each year. Why We Do It • 80% of Connecticut's low-income children are unable to read proficiently by the end of 3rd grade. • 44% of Connecticut's low-income 3 and 4 year olds do not attend pre-school. • 44 million adults are functionally illiterate and unable to read a simple story to their children. • Low literacy costs US taxpayers and businesses more than $225 billion each year, through lost wages, unemployment, welfare, and other government assistance. Why We Are Effective • Endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, our program is embedded within the existing medical system, providing us with unparalleled, repeated, one-on-one access to all children and families. • Pediatricians volunteer their time to deliver our program, which keeps our overhead costs low. • The book is "prescribed" as if it is a medication, so parents are far more likely to make reading aloud a part of their daily routines. GIVING OPPORTUNITIES There are several ways to give a disadvantaged child the chance to read and succeed: • Adopt-a-Program: Sponsor one of our 73 Connecticut Reach Out and Read programs located at medical clinics that predominantly serve low-income families. Annual program costs range from $5,000 — $60,000 depending on clinic size. • Become a Book Buddy: Our Book Buddy program offers an easy way to share the gift of reading with children in need every month of the year. Set the amount once, and your donation will be charged automatically each month to help disadvantaged children throughout our state. • Prescribe Literacy!: For every $100 donation, one child receives the full five years of Reach Out and Read including ten new books to take home and keep. For more information, email christine.garber@reachoutandread.org or visit http://www.reachoutandread.org/connecticut/ways-to-donate/ VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES • Board Members • Fundraising • Marketing, Communications & Administrative Support Our doctors make literacy development a standard part of pediatric primary care. ABOUT US Year established: 1989 Annual revenues: $600,000 (most recent fiscal year) Total number of employees: 5 GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA(S) Statewide, predominately in low-income communities. TOP FUNDING SOURCES Foundations: 83% In-Kind Donations: 12% Community Organizations: 3% Events: 1% Individual Donations: 1% Advisory Board Chair Carol Benjamin, BSN Pediatric Nurse Manager (retired) Renée Casey, MD, FAAP Main Street Pediatrics at Optimus Health Care, Inc. Rosemary Maxfield Marketing Executive Susan McCann, M.A., M.S. Educational Media Outreach Consultant Tish Rabe Children's Book Author Cynthia Roque, M.D. FAAP Pediatric Associates of Connecticut, P.C. Board of Trustees, Connecticut Community Foundation Andy Russell Hansen News, LLC Susan Schroeder Banking Executive T. Stephens Author Randi Walsh Early Education Professional National Medical Director Perri Klass, M.D., F.A.A.P. New York University, Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute Connecticut Medical Director Catherine Wiley, M.D. University of Connecticut School of Medicine; Connecticut Children's Medical Center Reach Out and Read Connecticut P.O. Box 290, Madison, CT 06443 | 203-980-6430 www.reachoutandread.org/connecticut OUR MISSION: Reach Out and Read gives young children a foundation for success by incorporating books into pediatric care and encouraging families to read aloud together. CONNECTICUT ADVISORY BOARD " " W e, at the Pediatric Health Center of Danbury Hospital, have taken under our wings the Reach Out and Read Program. This program has given us the tools to encourage our families to read to their babies and children, not only to promote language development and school readiness, but also to improve and foster the bond between them. I believe since the implementation of this program, the notion of reading to babies, which was foreign to many of our families, has made a very positive change in their views, and we are very optimistic that this program will make a significant impact in the future of our young patients. – Veronica Ron-Priola , MD of Danbury Hospital.

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