RIF is committed to a literate America where all children have the opportunities that literacy provides. Our model for impact is grounded in creating a culture of literacy for the children we serve - providing choice, access, and engagement opportunities for these children and the educators, parents and caregivers that support them.

For over 50 years, RIF has been an important voice for children’s literacy, and in partnership with a grassroots network of over 1 million volunteers in schools and communities nationwide, has impacted the lives of more than 40 million children.

There is a literacy crisis in America today. Some call it an opportunity or an achievement gap, but that implies its reach is limited. In reality, the literacy crisis is cyclical, beginning in early childhood and compounding each year: