Engaging FamiliesThrough Literacy

RAISING A READER NATIONAL Annual Report 2013

“Raising A Reader helped me develop a better relationship with my kids.”

Dr. Gabrielle E. MillerPresident & CEO

Richard WilkolaskiChair, Board of Directors

2013 Board of Directors

Dick Wilkolaski, Board Chair Rick Jones, Vice Chair Amanda Welsh, Ph.D, TreasurerJohn Baugh, Ph.D, SecretaryKarine ApollonEmmett D. Carson, Ph.DAllan CasalouKirsten Garen

I really like the Raising A Reader Program because it exposes my daughter to

different types of books. It also commits me to reading to her on a regular basis.

She seems more motivated and actually chooses to read them on her own.”

Elizabeth Villa, Parent

Join us at www.raisingareader.org

In 2013 Raising A Reader reached its 1 millionth child…a milestone which represents the work of more than 150 affiliated agencies who, in turn, reach families through more than 2,500 locations across the nation. Each of these agencies has demonstrated their commitment to program fidelity, improvement and organizational growth.

Also in 2013 Raising A Reader was recognized by the US Department of Education as an Innovative Approach to Literacy—continued acknowledgement that family involvement and home literacy practices play a critical role in academic success; and that programs like Raising A Reader are an important way to help families support children.

On behalf of the board and the staff, we would like to thank all of the affiliates, volunteers and supporters that helped us reach over 130,000 children in 2013. Raising A Reader is now a program which serves children aged 0-8, has a collection of nearly 1,000 carefully selected titles, and special collections in more than 12 different languages designed to reflect specific community needs. With a model which is based on peer-reviewed research, uses a practical but innovative ‘systems change’ theory of change, and a strong commitment to evaluation and program improvement, Raising A Reader holds a unique place in the nonprofit literacy world—a validated, scalable, and cost effective means to improve the literacy outcomes of participating children.

In 2014, Raising A Reader will continue to grow, learn, and develop new ways to help children and families build the literacy habits essential for reading acquisition and which are likely to become homework habits essential for school success. All of Raising A Reader’s success is the result of our founders, founding donors, affiliates, and most importantly the families who respond when a child with a little red bag looks at them and says “Read to me…”

“Families are always talking about the book quality and selection. They share stories about how they never understood the importance of book selection for their young child.”

LaTonya Brown, Coordinator, Columbus County Partnership for Children

The Raising A Reader Program

Raising A Reader’s mission is to engage caregivers in a routine of book sharing with their children from birth through

age eight to foster healthy brain development, healthy relationships, a love of reading, and the literacy skills critical

for school success.

Find out more under Impact at www.raisingareader.org

“Raising A Reader has made a significant impact in our reading families. Our Librarian at our partnership library tells me she gets visits from more of our parents then last year. One of our parents has to go to the sofa every night on schedule at 8:00 p.m., her son plumps the pillow for her to sit down to read to him.”

Angela Benton, Literacy Coach, Children’s Home + Aid, Chicago

National Landscape

2013 NUMBERS

Books shared

13,000,000

Children Participating

130,000

Implementing Sites

2,700

Affiliate Agencies

170

Number of States

33

Independent Evaluations

21

• Arizona• Arkansas• California• Colorado• Connecticut• Florida• Georgia• Hawaii• Illinois• Indiana• Kansas• Louisiana

• Maryland• Massachusetts• Michigan• Minnesota • Missiouri• Mississippi• Nevada • New Jersey• New York• North Carolina• North Dakota• Oklahoma

• Ohio• Oregon• Pennsylviania• South Carolina• Tennessee • Texas • US Virgin Islands • Virginia • Washington • Washington, DC• Wisconsin

Find out more under Programs at www.raisingareader.org

Raising A Reader is located in the following States:

2013 NUMBERS

In 2011, the California Masonic Foundation and Raising A Reader came together to form a partnership that could truly change the landscape of child literacy in the state. Focusing on children who need early intervention the most, the Masons of California and Raising A Reader provided tens of thousands of high quality books, parent trainings, professional development, early literacy and family engagement supports throughout California.

By the end of 2014, over 10,000 children and families will have participated in Raising A Reader through the Masons’ partnership in 74 schools across California. Through these efforts, California Masonic lodges throughout the state are contributing more than $1.2 million dollars over three years to change the literacy landscape in California for years to come. In 2013, the efforts for expansion into districts doubled and schools were added in San Jacinto, Buena Park, Shasta and San Bernardino, among others.

With the support of funders like the Masons of California, who are actively working to generate real change in communities across the country, Raising A Reader is able to continue empowering parents and caregiversto support their child’s learning and create joyful reading experiences that will resonate with throughout their lives.

Masons of California and Raising A Reader

Impact- Partner Story

Find out more under About Us at www.raisingareader.org

Children Participating

4,543Classrooms

185

Schools

34School Districts

14

Impact-Community

Find out more under Programs at www.raisingareader.org

Studies show that half of US children living in poverty enter school without the language skills needed for academic success. In Baltimore local statistics reflect national data with more than 49% of fourth-graders failing to meet 2013 year-level proficiency targets (Kids Count, 2013). Only 12% of Baltimore children living below the poverty line are proficient readers (National Assessment of Education Process, 2011). Since 2012 Raising A Reader has been working with a strong consortium of community partners, implementing agencies and funders to reach more than 20,000 Baltimore children and their families by 2014 and close to 380 classrooms throughout the city. One of our greatest advocates in Baltimore is Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. When asked about Raising A Reader, Mayor Rawlings-Blake said “It is so important for the future of our young people that they develop a love of reading. This is a great program. I am very proud that it’s here in Baltimore. This is a group effort.”Baltimore programs have been supported in 2013 by:• Capital One • US Department of Education• Maryland State Department of Education • Wright Family Foundation • Target • Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation

Baltimore, MD

"We love the red bags and can't wait for them to come home each week. My daughter's favorite is ‘The Three Javelinas.’ I hope we can do this until she won't let me read to her anymore.”

Parent in Baltimore City Head Start

Raising A Reader VolunteersVolunteers support all aspects of the organization. From being a board member to supporting our warehouse, RAR is grateful for all of its amazing volunteers!

In 2013, volunteers:• Secured over $130,000 in funds • Stickered over 6,000 books• Entered over 1,500 family surveys• Bundled over 5,000 tags• Assembled 400 manuals

Raising A Reader relies on a multitude of donors and supporters to make the program successful. 2013 supporters included:

Supporters

$250,000 +Sally & Rick Jones Family Fund*Masons of CaliforniaU.S. Department of Education

$100,000 -$250,000Annie E. Casey FoundationSilicon Valley Community Foundation ** Lund Family Fund Andrew Mendelsohn Fund Dale & Helen Mersereau Fund Bernard A. Newcomb Foundation Palo Alto Weekly Holiday Fund SanDisk Corporation Fund Ellen & Robert F. Sawyer Fund Sobrato Philanthropy FundSobrato Foundation (Space Grant)Target Corporation

$45,000-$99,999Always Dream FoundationDeutsche Bank Americas FoundationSobrato Family Foundation

$15,000-$44,999Bank of the West Capital One Financial CorporationCisco Systems FoundationCommunity Foundation for Monterey CountyMasons of OregonMonterey Peninsula Foundation

$500-$15,000Anonymous Karine Apollon James & Daphne AraujoAllan CasalouKirsten GarenGoogleGlobal Giving FoundationHarden FoundationChris & Melody Malachowsky FundJeffery & Gabrielle Miller Tony & Larylynn MullerNancy Buck Ransom Foundation

Rob SchoebenPeaceful Touch $500-$15,000 continued Lone Pine FoundationT. Rowe PriceThe Audrey & Robert Talbott FoundationColleen Tate Amanda WelshRichard & Arleene Wilkolaski

Up to $499Kristen Anderson & Michael RoweChristopher Andrews Shannon AtkinsonBoaz Barak John Baugh Carolyn BechtholdSusan BelkLinda BlonsleyNick Bruel Angela Bush Robert BushAdam Callaway John CaputoEmmett & Jackie CarsonCathy CocolesShelly CoulterKenyon Devault Joyce DooleyErika EdmistonWilliam & Alice EnglanderRaquel EspanaAdam FarrNicolas FerraraJennifer FordRebecca Funk Peter & Ann GregoryBill & Margie HartJohn HartAmy HayEdward Hattyar Amy HayesDiane JeronimoRebecca Karnes Peter Henning MM Gabriel KhanSandy Kraft

Claire Henry Keeley TrustMaxine KingPam Lerner Brandon LevinLea LindKimberly Hensle LowranceJanis MedinaJay MorrisLesley MullerWilliam MurphyDeborah NiemannDavid PokomyNicole QuintanaRobin RobinsJulia RuttnerMichele SamuelsJune SargentCory ScheerStanley ScheerR. Longley SchenkBruce ScottTisha SmithSuzie TapsonColleen TateCarol Templin Joyce ThauJoe TheisTom VansagniLeandra WallaceF. Clark WardenJessica WeareMary WilmotDiana WoodheadNancy Yue

In-Kind SupportersScholastic Inc.Jag FormsTom RaffaGoogle

....and other individuals and volunteers!*As part of a legacy gift**Through listed donor advised gifts

Find out more under Get Involved at www.raisingareader.org

“The Raising A Reader Program is very important to our school. The program shows our families that we value reading to our children.

Please keep it going.” Paulina Charubin, Educator, The Historic Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Elementary, Baltimore

Financial Report2013 Revenue & Expenses

RevenueInstitutions $1,156,240

Government $1,848,378

Donations $208,009

In-Kind $181,872

Earned revenue $1,805,694

Other $68,701

Total $5,264,521

ExpensesProgram Services $3,064,797

Operations/Warehouse $532,637

Administration $773,617

Development $426,708

Total $4,817,756

Audited financials available upon request

Revenue

Government

35%

Individual 4%

Earned Revenue

34%

InKind 3%

Other Income 1%

Institutions 22%

Find out more under About Us at www.raisingareader.org

2013 Assets & LiabilitiesAssetsCash & Equivalents $1,451,339 Investments $1,063,377Receivables $555,317Inventory $430,910Fixed Assets (net of depreciation) $166,778Other Assets $32,631

Total $3,700,352

LiabilitiesRelated Party & Accounts Payable $1,035,856Payrol Related Liabilities $202,992

Total $1,238,848

Net AssetsUnrestricted $1,658,668

Temporarily Restricted $802,836

Total Net Assets $2,461,504

Total Liabilities & Net Assets $3,700,352

Administration

16%

Expenses

Development 9%

Program Services

64%

Operations/Warehouse 11%