READING LEGACIES

San Diego, California, 92106 United States

Mission Statement

Our mission is to facilitate supportive relationships for children through family and friends reading aloud with them. Our vision is that all children will feel the security of caring adult relationships and develop a love of reading through the read aloud experience. Since 2009, we have served over 70,000 children, youth and families throughout San Diego. Our program models are replicable, volunteer-driven, and based on our premise that when you give to others, you gain yourself.

About This Cause

Research shows that reading aloud with children is the single best predictor of their future success in reading. Yet, over 30% of 4th graders today read below grade level. Reading together also provides a fundamental to connection for children, mitigating the effects of stress and distance within families. Where there is adversity, reading together brings comfort and joy and reminds us what is important. Reading books – exploring the inner lives of characters – also helps us empathize with one another. Storytime between adult and child is a precious opportunity to reach gently into the heart of a child with the added benefit of recalibrating our own. Our four programs are: • Book Bridges – Strengthening family bonds by incorporating reading aloud in families separated by incarceration and addiction. • First Teachers – Empowering parents as their children's first teacher through reading aloud regularly in the home. • Storybook Inspirations – Forming meaningful communication between generations as children and seniors read aloud on video to family and community members across any distance. • Youth Readers – High school students learn leadership and public service by reading aloud to children in their community. Reading Legacies’ programs are educational and target an intergenerational population that is consistently in poverty, with 90% experiencing low-income levels. We focus on serving the most vulnerable children and youth in our community especially those in underserved, low-income areas (Title I Schools) and/or those who have an incarcerated parent or other family member. 56% of participants report being Hispanic, 17% Caucasian, 11% Multi-racial, and 9% African American, and 3% American Indian. Our objectives are: enhance the joy of reading for children/youth; foster/maintain bonds between all ages by spending time with each other reading aloud; provide role modeling opportunities for at-risk youth and incarcerated parents; gain satisfaction from giving of oneself through an intergenerational experience; demonstrate the power of reading aloud for developing meaningful relationships and life-changing attitudes about reading; increase awareness of the importance of reading to children.

READING LEGACIES
2750 Historic Decatur Road, Suite 210
San Diego, California 92106
United States
Phone 619-269-2743
Unique Identifier 270523331