Reach Out and Read New Jersey awarded $25K to implement innovative program for newborns
(WRNJ Radio)
Reach Out and Read, a national nonprofit leading the charge in promoting early childhood literacy and healthy early relationships, announces the investment of $350,000 into communities nationwide, including $25,000 for sites in New Jersey.
This allocation, which stems from a historic donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, will fund 14 local projects, allowing Reach Out and Read Affiliates to give even more children a better start to life. In FY23, Reach Out and Read served more than 4.4 million families through books and guidance about shared reading from dedicated medical clinicians.
The $25,000 allocated to Reach Out and Read New Jersey will help existing clinics incorporate the evidence-backed program, Building Connections Begins at Birth. As new research has shown, routines focused on spending time together reading aloud have a lasting impact beyond language and early literacy; they help foster emotional connections and healthy social-emotional development. Reach Out and Read’s updated model emphasizes introducing talking, reading, and singing with babies right from birth.
“We are thrilled that National is helping to support our transition to the Building Connections Begins at Birth for families across New Jersey,” said Reach Out and Read New Jersey Executive Director Kim Byam. “This new evidence proves that the Reach Out and Read model had it right all along and now families with newborns at our clinics will have the benefits of this early relational health model that will benefit them for life.”
Read the full article at WRNJ Radio here.
Also: Reach Out and Read Texas Receives $25,000 Donation From MacKenzie Scott (CW33 TV)
“We are grateful to have this investment, supporting the work of serving more families across Texas,” said Reach Out and Read Texas Affiliate Director, Jocelyn McConnell. “Pediatric teams celebrate the opportunity to engage more families and elevate their healthy interactions.”
Read the full article at CW33 TV here.
Also: Reach Out And Read Northwest Awarded $25,000 To Implement Innovative Program For Newborns (The Source Weekly); Reach Out and Read NW gets $25K to expand read-to-baby program (Seattle’s Child)
“This new funding serves as a commitment to the clinics and families in Washington and Oregon as we work collectively to increase the ’dose’ of our impactful program. Starting at birth means children get Reach Out and Read at four extra well-child visits, including four more books,” said Reach Out and Read Northwest Regional Executive Director Jessica Mortensen. “Beginning with newborns offers our foundational support from day one.”
Read the full article at The Source Weekly here and at Seattle’s Child here.
Also: Reach Out and Read Alabama investing more money into early childhood literacy (Alabama Public Radio); Reach Out and Read Alabama | Talk of Alabama | 4.10.2024 (ABC 33/40 News)
“This is a game changer for Reach Out and Read Alabama,” said Reach Out and Read Statewide Coordinator Amy Crosby in a statement. “By hiring a program manager to join our team, we will increase our capacity to meet the needs of our clinicians and expand our reach to meet the needs of Alabama’s children.”
Read the full article at Alabama Public Radio here and watch the TV interview at ABC 33/40 News here.
Also: Reach Out and Read San Diego receives $27K donation from MacKenzie Scott (FOX 5 San Diego)
“These funds will allow us to provide books to even more children within San Diego and Imperial Counties,” said AAP-CA3 Program Director Tara Milbrand. “More books in hands along with our messaging on the importance of reading together and parents reading aloud ultimately benefits families and builds stronger bonds between parents and children.”
Read the full article at FOX 5 San Diego here.
Also: Reach Out and Read Directs $350K to Local Communities (Education News Today); Reach Out and Read Directs $350K to Local Communities (Essential Healthcare News)
Download the press release as a PDF here.