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RIF’s Community of Literacy Partners
Every year, RIF carries the message that "Reading Is Fundamental" to millions of children and families with free books and innovative literacy resources. This would not be possible without the generous support of our corporate and foundation partners. Below are a few examples of RIF's partnerships during the 2006 fiscal year from October 2005 to September 2006.
Capital One Financial Corporation
In September 2005, Capital One Financial Corporation joined RIF to promote children's literacy through a strategic, integrated approach to philanthropy. By leveraging all corporate assets, including national divisions, employees, and business channels, Capital One went above and beyond traditional philanthropy to support RIF. First, through a $1.25 million pledge over three years, Capital One’s donation will allow RIF to move 56,000 children and their families from the waiting list for RIF’s Family of Readers program, providing lending libraries to children and their families across the country. Next, in 2006, Capital One increased its commitment to RIF and the cause of children's literacy through the GiveHope Debit Card program, which supports RIF programs nationally. Also in 2006, Capital One sponsored the 2006 Gift of Reading Awards Gala. With the additional involvement of Gregor Bailar, Capital One's chief information officer, on RIF's board of directors, and with the involvement of many Capital One associates, we are getting closer to reaching our mission. RIF is pleased to share our achievements with an outstanding partner.
Macy's
Throughout August and September 2006, Macy's joined RIF for the national Back to Books program. Macy's customers shopping in children's departments were given the opportunity to donate $3 to RIF. As a show of appreciation, Macy's provided a coupon for $10 off a purchase of $50 or more to customers who donated to RIF. Thanks to the many thousands of customers who made a donation, RIF received more than $1.2 million from the program.
From each donation, $2 has been earmarked to support local RIF programs; the remaining $1 will be used to provide reading resources for children nationwide, including the new Macy's Multicultural Literacy Project. The project will include a public education and outreach campaign, and will improve the quality and selection of books and motivational activities appropriate for African American, Hispanic, and Native American children and families at local RIF programs. The Macy's donation will go a long way to help share the joy of reading with millions of children across the country.
Colgate-Palmolive Company
Colgate-Palmolive and RIF teamed up to help kids build Healthy Bedtime Habits for a Lifetime. In August 2006, Colgate donated more than 120 new book collections each containing 127 high-quality hardcover children's books to select RIF programs nationwide and at U.S. military bases overseas. Colgate is committed to promoting children's literacy and has contributed more than $550,000 to RIF since 2004 to help share the joy of reading and build healthy reading and brushing habits among children.
As an additional resource, Colgate developed a Healthy Bedtime Habits Reading and Brushing Log online at www.ColgateHealthyHabits.com. Children can log their reading and brushing activities and earn points for fun games and prizes. The website is also a great resource for parents with articles, tips, and suggested activities to help them encourage their children to start these habits early.
Target Corporation
RIF partnered with Target Corp. in 2006 to encourage children to stay engaged in reading activities throughout the summer. The program, Summer Reading is Out of this World, featured an online reading log and tracking system and a new motivational activity (Star Words) that will remain a featured game on Reading Planet. To market the program, RIF teamed with Target to distribute t-shirts, postcards, posters, and activity booklets. These distributions were made through community leaders and volunteers at public libraries, local literacy organizations, schools, and other community organizations. These efforts resulted in more than 7,000 new RIF eNewsletter subscribers, 13,000 new Reading Club members, and more than 4,000 children completing this year's summer reading challenge. Children who completed the challenge received a $10 Target gift card and a summer reading bookmark. Target’s total contribution to RIF was $330,000.
MetLife Foundation
In December 2005, RIF received a $185,000 grant from the MetLife Foundation to support our Program Excellence Initiative, the 2006/2007 Community Reading Challenge, and Families Make the Difference workshops. MetLife Foundation has contributed generously to RIF since 1976, and in past years has funded the National Poster Contest and the Community Reading Challenge, as well as other innovative reading initiatives. The 2006 Program Excellence Initiative recognized 25 highly performing RIF programs and brought representatives from each program together in Washington for an opportunity to glean best practices from them. The 2006/2007 Community Reading Challenge was designed to increase parent and community involvement in local RIF programs and to reward RIF programs for demonstrating quality work in motivating children to read. The Families Make the Difference workshops were designed to help parents understand their child’s literacy and educational development, and to help the schools involve parents in school practices, policies, and educational goals.
The ARAMARK Charitable Fund
In December 2005, The ARAMARK Charitable Fund continued its eight-year history of support to RIF by making an unrestricted gift of $100,000. These generous unrestricted gifts can be used wherever they are needed most—from supporting early childhood initiatives to providing lending libraries to schools affected by natural disasters—in order to fulfill RIF’s mission to inspire children to become lifelong readers. In addition to benefiting from ARAMARK’s financial support, RIF National regularly receives inquiries from ARAMARK offices across the country for information on local RIF programs in their communities that they can support through funding and volunteerism.
UGI Utilities, Inc.
Many of RIF's corporate donors request that their funding be targeted to specific geographic areas. UGI Utilities continued their 15-year history of giving with a fiscal 2006 grant of $95,000 to support RIF programs located in UGI communities in Pennsylvania. B. J. Irvin, coordinator at a UGI-supported school, knows the importance of the RIF program at Carlisle Elementary: "Some of our families have a very limited income. Putting books in the hands of students shows them the importance of reading in their lives—no matter how limited the resources." UGI employees also get involved by volunteering at the RIF programs that the corporation supports.
Download RIF's most current annual report.
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