Save Reading Is Fundamental

I love books. Ever since I was a young child I’ve spent hours escaping into the pages of a good book. Even though I do more reading on the screen of my Kindle now, the experience is just the same and I’m making sure that my children are avid readers as well.

That is why when I heard that President Obama’s 2011 Budget cuts all funding for Reading is Fundamental (RIF) I was saddened.

Do you remember RIF? I do. It was always a great day at school because we’d go down to the gymnasium and have the power to pick out a single book for free. It was so hard to choose just one book to take because they always had so many good ones. Buying books was something of a luxury for me and while I’d check them out of the library at an alarming rate (we lived across the street), I cherished the days that RIF came to school.

Founded in 1966, RIF distributes 15 million books annually to children. Funded by Congress since 1975, RIF maintains programs in schools, community centers, hospitals,  and military bases. They have roughly 400,000 volunteers that maintain their 17,000 locations. They do a LOT of good for the country.

But, with the proposed budget all of their funding will be cut and their program will more then likely have to shut down. I don’t want to see this happen and I have a strong feeling that many of you don’t want it to either.

There is a letter writing campaign going on and they’ve made it as easy as a few clicks to e-mail your government officials about this.

To show your support please go to www.Rif.og/SaveRIF

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C.C. Chapman is a father of two (a boy and a girl) who loves the outdoors, creating media and playing with technology. When not on the computer he can most likely be found cooking or taking photos. He is also the co-founder of The Advance Guard and a busy public speaker.
  • Speaking as a father of one (now 13) and an avid reader this saddens me. I've in Canada and thing work a bit different, very important to get kid's reading. My wife and i read with him everyday growing up but something didn't click. We found out in elementary school that he couldn't read!!! Was there something wrong we thought! It was is to blame the school because they teach to a level and if your below you just get dragged along. He's was tested and tested and past with flying colors. On a recomendation we went to something called Sylvan (and little pricey but we worth it). He reads when he wants to or has to (he's 13...) I'm happy to say in grade 7 he finished in Honor role and grade 8 he's getting A's and B's sofar so good. Wow sorry for such a long comment. this is important to me. All the topics you embraced so far are important to me! Thanks for build this house for Daddy's to talk about stuff we don't get a chance to talk about.
  • Wow. I remember Reading Is Fundamental well! That is a terrible thing to cut, as nothing is more beneficial than a love for reading. Thanks for spreading the word! I had the good fortune of working with READING RAINBOW for a while back in the '90's and in my mind I always think of that and RIF together.
  • nancydowd
    Are there any partnerships going on with libraries? While I hate to see any organization end, maybe the powers that be could work with libraries to discover some new possibilities.
  • Thank you for posting this. As a Board Member of BookSpring, the Austin affiliate of Reading is Fundamental and Reach Out and Read, this is a huge concern for us. I sincerely appreciate you amplifying this important message.
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