Hey
Friend
,
Have you seen the latest 2017 Rhode Island Kids Count Factbook? Yes, take a look!
You have celebrating to do! The core cities of Central Falls, Pawtucket and Providence
experienced gains of 7% in third grade reading proficiency! This is progress we should all be proud
of. Thanks to your support we were able to put 37,969 free books in the hands of children in these
cities last year. Your book donations and financial contributions provided the essential
tools to
motivate kids to read.
But there is more work to be done. 85% of economically disadvantaged third graders in
Central Falls and 80% in Providence still need your help. Having access to books during the summer
months is crucial to stopping the downward slide and maintaining the reading skills acquired during
the school year.
Beginning this summer, your giving will be amplified through the Books All Year program. Your
support will help provide 20 free summer reading experiences at camps in Central Falls, Pawtucket
and Providence. Then your contribution will go back to school by providing visits to every classroom
in 14 elementary schools, 8 early learning centers and distribution of free books at 24 community
events during the 2017-2018 school year. As a result children in Greater Providence will have the
opportunity to receive 6 free books throughout the course of the year. That’s over 45,000 of your
books and 100% of your financial contributions giving locally.
The work begins now- in the summer. Summer is the critical time when children either maintain or
lose the skills they acquired during the school year. Our children cannot afford to lose their
success.
I hope you consider joining us in making Greater Providence literacy-rich.
Sincerely,
Jocelynn White, Director
