As we wrap up our 50th year and begin our next 50, we want to say thank you to YOU -- our NOVA RIF community -- for supporting our efforts to put books into the hands of area children who need them the most. Whether you contributed funds individually or as part of our Golden Gala, or collected like-new, gently used books for redistribution, or gave time to help at a book event, or shared information about NOVA RIF to a broader community that may not know about us ... we are grateful for your help, ideas, concern, and support. Because ... according to the U.S. Department of Education:
“The only behavior measure that correlates significantly with reading scores is the number of books in the home.”
And this is something we can address ... together! Our work continues, and we look forward to your continuing support! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
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A Special Thank You Goes to:
Golden Gala Guest Author Fred Bowen! Fred signed and donated 50 books for NOVA RIF children. Fred Bowen was a Little Leaguer who loved to read and is still a lifelong sports fanatic. He is the author of the action-packed Fred Bowen Sports Story series, currently totaling more than twenty titles. For thirteen years, Bowen coached kids’ baseball and basketball teams. He has also written a weekly sports column for kids in the Washington Post since 2000. He was a lawyer for many years before retiring to become a full-time children’s book author. Read more about Fred here! We are so grateful for his generous book donation!
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Author Fred Bowen with a box of newly dedicated books to give to RIF of NOVA children! So cool! |
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Two lucky Patrick Henry K-8 middle schoolers with their new, signed-by-the-author sports books! |
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It's Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, a 1972 ALA Notable Children's Book written by Judith Viorst, illustrated by Ray Cruz, and published by Atheneum Books. Viorst followed this book up with three sequels, Alexander, Who Used to be Rich Last Sunday, Alexander, Who's Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move, and Alexander, Who's Trying His Best to Be the Best Boy Ever. Alexander and his two older brothers, Anthony and Nick, are based on Viorst's own three sons of the same names. Read more about this book on our website, where you can also click to an NPR story about Judith Viorst and the real Alexander -- now all grown up!
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As RIF of NOVA ends its celebration of 50 years in 2022, we have been hearing from our community of supporters!
"Patino Associates is honored to be a sponsor of RIF of NOVA in celebration of its 50 years in Northern Virginia. When kids can read, they can achieve their dreams. We are proud to be part of the solution."
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"RIF of NOVA's work is incredible! French Press Printing is so happy to be a newly added community business partner working in support of books for area children. Congratulations on 50 years...and counting!"
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NOVA RIF New Book Distributions Have Begun! |
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Your funding supports the purchase of at least one book for all 20,000+ children at NOVA RIF's 37 schools and sites. New book distributions have begun for Academic Year 2022-2023 -- along with a ton of fun! Photos of book distributions are posted on our website (click here) as they happen, thanks to NOVA RIF liaisons, librarians, administrators, and other volunteers at each site.
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The look on your face at the Falls Church McLean Children's Center (FCMLCC), when you find just the right book!
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A Halloween book distribution at the ACCA Child Development Center brought smiles all around!
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Winter Wonderland -- Marumsco Hills
Children at Prince William County's (PWC) Marumsco Hills Elementary School learned how fun picking a book of their own could be as they visited their school's library for three "snow magical" days in December. They found not only tables and tables of books but cut-out snow people on the walls, paper icicles hanging from the rafters, and a snack of hot chocolate with marshmallows and cookies! And picking just the right book ... hmmm ... that's always the hardest part!!!
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Brown Eyes or Blue?
PWC's Sinclair Elementary School held a December-to-remember NOVA RIF book distribution, during which students colored a snowperson to indicate their reading preferences! For example, the children could color their snowperson's eyes brown if they like to read books alone; blue if they prefer to read with a buddy. If they like fiction best, they colored a 2-snowball snowperson; nonfiction a 3-snowball snowperson. Plus they had the choice of a brand new book! How cool is that!
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Creating HOPE! When kids give to kids! |
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We started our like-new, gently used book program during the pandemic because so many children had no access to books. The program has been wildly successful, drawing in over 17,000 books to date. The most rewarding part of the program is seeing kids in our community collecting and giving books to other kids who have few (or even no) books of their own ... creating HOPE!
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"As our Cadette service project, our troop decided to collect books for Reading is Fundamental of Northern Virginia. We are very honored as a troop to take an active part in inspiring children to love reading. Our troop is very passionate about reading, and we want to make sure every kid gets to read. We are very grateful for all the wonderful people who donated their books to our drive. We hope that each and every book inspires another kid. As a troop, we thank Reading is Fundamental of Northern Virginia, for creating hope."
-- Sarah F, Girl Scout Cadette Troop 50007, Vienna, VA
(Note: The troop collected nine boxes and 17 bags of books = 800 books! Zowie! TY!!!)
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Jaxon (5) and Mila (3), both students at Country Day School in McLean, displayed books collected for NOVA RIF. Together, CDS families contributed a total of 555 books during a drive that culminated at the Annual CDS Book Fair in late October. Additionally, students made bookmarks to give to the new book owners! |
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Sixth grader Riley Whitt, a voracious reader, cleared out his elementary school books to make space for his new reading interests as a middle school student. The result: More great books to share with NOVA RIF children! Thank you, Riley! |
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Elyssa Rome's Bat Mitzvah project was devoted to books for RIF of NOVA! In addition to a book drive. which netted several boxes of gently used books, Eyssa's friends and relatives contributed funds for new books, too! Congratulations, Elyssa, and thank you! |
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Travis (8) is on a mission to update his bedroom and make a spot for a reading nook. He rearranged his space and, after clearing out his old picture books for donation to NOVA RIF, he now has room to get comfy and read. He hopes his books will bring joy to a new group of readers as well. They will, for sure! Thank you, Travis! |
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Want to help? You CAN! Ideas below...
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Donate to NOVA RIF
via the CFC!
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The Combined Federal Campaign is ON! If you are a federal employee or retiree, this is one way to donate to RIF of NOVA. Our CFC Charity # is 18818. Sign up to give through January 14, 2023. |
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*Send a check to our mailbox:
RIF of NOVA
P. O. Box 7012
Arlington, VA 22207-0012
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Other options to help:
*Register with smile.amazon.com. Type in Reading is Fundamental of Northern Virginia, Inc. to select us as the charity you want to support. Amazon will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases to RIF of NOVA. The 0.5% can really add up!
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*If your workplace holds a United Way campaign, designate RIF of NOVA as your chosen philanthropy. Our United Way # is 8959. |
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Thank you for any donation -- no matter how big or small! And thank you for being part of the RIF of NOVA community!
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Please share the RAP! Forward our newsletter to your friends and anyone interested in providing books to children who need them!
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