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MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
RIF of NOVA's Golden Gala
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Planning is well underway for RIF of NOVA's 50th anniversary Golden Gala: One for the Books!
When: Thursday, October 20
Where: Westwood Country Club, Vienna
What: A fun- and fundraiser to celebrate books for area children
Details: To come!
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As RIF of NOVA celebrates 50 years in 2022, we are hearing from our community of supporters!
"When the Vineyard Family Foundation was established, education was one of our cornerstones. RIF of NOVA is one organization that fulfills this mission. We wish you 50 more years of success and will continue to partner with you as a way to reach more children and fulfill both of our missions of improving our community through literacy -- one child at a time!"
-- Grace and William Vineyard, Founders, Vineyard Family Foundation
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"My first introduction to Reading Is Fundamental of NOVA was as a sponsor for the biannual Book It For Books fundraiser. It was such a pleasure to learn about an organization of volunteers who share the same mission as I do at Bards Alley -- getting books into the hands of young readers. Soon after our partnership began, COVID hit, and I was amazed to see the efforts put forth to ensure these children were not forgotten. Through their book donations and fundraising efforts, RIF of NOVA continues to foster a love of reading and provide a foundation on which their beneficiaries can prosper."
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What WAS happening in the children's book world in 1972 when RIF of NOVA began? On a special page on our website, we are counting backward from January through December to reach the top-selling book of 1972.
Number 7 on the list is: Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great by Judy Blume. First published in 1972, it is the second book in the Fudge series. The central character is Sheila...sometimes great and sometimes scared of spiders, swimming, and dogs. When the family heads to the country for a summer vacation, Sheila confronts her fears, and hilarity ensues!
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"Spring Into Reading" at Polk Elementary! |
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At James K. Polk Elementary's RIF of NOVA book distribution in Alexandria, K-2 students learned about butterflies and their life cycles. With librarian Leslie Broughton at the helm, the children read Eric Carle books and colored Carle illustrations to create their own spring works of art.
Children in grades three through five made origami book marks. Notice anything these sweet faces have in common? Yep! All are happy ... to have new RIF of NOVA books to call their own!
To see photos of other NOVA RIF books distributions from the 2021-2022 academic year, please click here!
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Cover Story: Make it a Summer Reading Adventure! |
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Have you heard of the summer slide? Don’t look for it on any playground. The “summer slide” refers to the fact that many children, particularly at lower-income levels, score lower on standardized tests at the end of summer break than they did at the beginning. |
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"During summer vacation, loss in reading skills increases as household income level decreases, according to Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL). Luckily, there’s more than one way to keep kids' minds sharp this summer in Northern Virginia, from signing them up for one of the region’s educational summer camps to taking them to the library."
All our local libraries have summer reading challenge programs. They are listed on our website (click here) along with an FCPL article with reading ideas to turn reading into a summer adventure! A Northern Virginia Magazine article outlines many more ideas on how to engage children in learning over the summer months. Find that article here!
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A Book Bash for Alexandria Schools |
RIF of NOVA held its second in a series of Book Bash events on May 21st -- this time for the four Alexandria elementary schools we support: John Adams, Polk, Patrick Henry, and Cora Kelly. Thanks to John Adams librarian and NOVA RIF liaison Emily Godfrey, it was a smashing success! Over 600 gently used books went to kids and families -- all donated by you, our RIF of NOVA community! The kids also got medals, made bookmarks, and had a blast with special guest ... the big red guy! Even John Adams principal Dr. Alicia Kingcade got into the act, posing for the paparazzi with a book in hand! See more photos of this most wonderful (though very hot -- whew!) day by clicking here. |
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Meet Local Author Karen Schaufeld
Don't Dumb Down the Language!
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Author Karen Schaufeld's fourth children's book is a love story about vultures. This Leesburg entrepreneur, philanthropist, and lawyer lives on a farm and writes children's stories about the nature around her. |
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She also believes in writing children's books that appeal to both children and to parent readers -- using challenging words that kids will understand in context. Meet Karen in our website feature about local authors by clicking here!
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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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