A Legacy of Literacy. A Future of Possibility.

Sixty years ago, one woman saw something that many overlooked: too many children did not have books at home to call their own. 

Margaret McNamara did not set out to build a national movement. She was a mother, a former educator, and a volunteer, and through her experience, she understood a fundamental truth: if a child could read, they had the opportunity to achieve. And if they could not, opportunity narrowed before it ever began. 

So, she acted. One book at a time. One child at a time. One school at a time. In November 1966, that action became Reading Is Fundamental (RIF). 

A Nation in Need:  Then and Now 

RIF was born in response to a national need, and sixty years later, that need remains urgent.  Today, millions of children in the United States still struggle to read proficiently. Far too many grow up in homes without books. Literacy gaps persist along lines of income, race, and geography, limiting not only academic outcomes but lifelong opportunity. 

These are not abstract statistics. They represent children whose curiosity is dimmed too early, whose confidence is undermined, and whose potential is constrained, not by ability, but by access.  At its core, the literacy crisis is an opportunity crisis. And reading remains the foundation. 

Why Reading Changes Everything 

Reading is more than a skill. 

It is how children make sense of the world. 

It is how they build knowledge, empathy, and agency. 

It is how they discover who they are—and who they might become. 

When children have access to books they choose themselves, something powerful happens. Reading becomes joyful. Personal. Empowering. It becomes a habit, not a hurdle.  This belief has guided RIF from the very beginning: choice matters, access matters, and joy matters. 

Meeting Children Where They Are 

For sixty years, RIF has adapted to ensure that children and families can engage with reading in ways that reflect their lives and realities. 

From physical books children can hold and call their own, to digital reading experiences that allow families to read anytime, anywhere, RIF has continued to evolve without ever losing sight of its purpose. 

Today, children can discover stories at home, in classrooms, on phones, and on tablets. They can explore new ideas, cultures, and possibilities beyond their immediate surroundings. And they can do so on their own terms, building confidence and curiosity along the way.  Because creating a culture of literacy means more than distributing books, it means embedding reading into daily life. 

Stronger Than Ever Because the Need Is Stronger Than Ever 

For sixty years, Reading Is Fundamental has helped build a nation of readers, supporting millions of “RIF Kids” who discovered the joy of books, the confidence that comes with choice, and the belief that reading opens doors. That impact is real and enduring. And yet, the need has not diminished. As society changes, the demands placed on children grow, access gaps persist, and literacy remains the single most critical gateway skill to opportunity. 

Sixty years in, RIF’s work is not done. It is more relevant than ever.  Anniversaries are moments to reflect but also to recommit.  We honor Margaret McNamara’s vision not by preserving it in time, but by carrying it forward with urgency, innovation, and resolve. By ensuring that every child, regardless of circumstance, has the opportunity to experience the power of reading. 

The Next Chapter 

This anniversary is not just about celebrating what Reading Is Fundamental has done. It is about what we must continue to do together. Building a nation of readers has always depended on a community that believes in the power of stories and the importance of access. 

There are many ways to be part of this next chapter. You can share a favorite book or reading memory through our Wall of Reading, helping to celebrate the stories that shaped you. You can read with a child in your life, sparking curiosity and confidence. And you can support RIF’s mission, ensuring more children have books to choose, to keep, and to love. 

When we place a book in a child’s hands, we are doing more than sharing a story. We are opening doors. We are creating memories.  We are affirming possibility. We are saying, your future matters. 

That belief sparked a movement sixty years ago. It continues to fuel us today. 

A legacy of literacy. 

A future of possibility. 

About Alicia Levi 
Alicia Levi is President and CEO of Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), the nation’s leading children’s literacy organization. Since joining RIF in 2016, she has championed innovative approaches to expand access to books and reading resources, launching digital platforms like Literacy Central and Skybrary that inspire a lifelong love of reading. A recognized leader in educational media, Alicia remains dedicated to ensuring every child has the opportunity to read, learn, and grow.