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As Thanksgiving approaches, we at Reading Power want to say an extra thank you to all of our Reading Power tutors, staff, donors, and supporters. Thank you for fueling our mission to foster the promise of literacy. We are grateful for your support and your friendship today and every day. |
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Great Lakes Navy Personnel Join the Reading Power Ranks |
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When Hospital Corpsman Third Class Rachel S. was deployed to the Great Lakes Naval Base earlier this year, she was looking forward to spending some time on her old stomping grounds. “The base is where we all completed basic training. It’s been fun to be back and get to explore the area a bit outside the Navy walls.” Soon after arriving on base, Rachel received a group text from Hospital Corpsman Third Class Ivory E. looking for volunteers.
Ivory was tasked with finding community volunteer opportunities for her group temporarily assigned here. “In the Navy, we are encouraged to utilize our downtime wisely. I found Reading Power through Volunteer Match, connected with prekindergarten Site Coordinator Joy McGreevy about the prekindergarten Reading Power program, and knew immediately it would be a great match for our team.”
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Hospital Corpsman Third Class Rachel S. and a Reading Power prekindergarten student enjoy a book together |
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Hospital Corpsman Third Class Ivory E. and a Reading Power prekindergarten student |
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Hospital Corpsman Third Class Sergio C. and a Reading Power prekindergarten student |
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“The timing was impeccable.” Joy noted. “It was the end of summer and we were actively recruiting tutors. We needed to build back our in-person tutor base after being unable to tutor in school last year. The one hour a week commitment, for a minimum of eight weeks in the classroom, was a perfect fit for Ivory and her team looking to make a big impact in a short amount of time.”
Rachel immediately responded. “YES!” to Ivory’s text inquiring about becoming a volunteer tutor. “Before joining the Navy, I was a day teacher and worked with the infant to five-year-olds. My favorite part of the day was reading to the children. I couldn’t wait to be back in a classroom again." Working with Joy and Reading Power quickly became the highlight of Rachel's week. She marveled, “Seeing the children’s eyes light up when they discover a new colorful flap book or enjoy the consistency of hearing the same story over and over was incredibly rewarding. We’re giving them the one-to-one attention they crave while helping develop the building blocks of literacy.”
As her deployment winds down later this month, Rachel will take one big lesson with her from her time with Reading Power: “Every little bit helps,” she noted. “It was such a small-time commitment each week and was such a small part of their day, but we made a big impact.”
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Hospital Corpsman Mercedes V. and a Reading Power prekindergarten student enjoy a book together |
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Thank you to Rachel and all the Navy volunteers for your time and dedication! If you have an hour to give each week to read with three- to five-year-olds, consider volunteering for our prekindergarten program. Click HERE to sign up.
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Thank you to Dollar General Literacy Foundation for awarding Reading Power their Youth Literacy Grant for 2021. The funding will be used to purchase over 240 in-class leveled reader books for students to enjoy this academic year. |
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Thank you to Grand Appliances for awarding Reading Power 2021 grant funds. The funding will help us continue to Extend, Expand, and Enhance our programming to reach more students in need. |
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Thank you to Forest & Bluff for celebrating Reading Power’s 19th program year in the November Issue. Read the article HERE.
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Reading Power's 2020-2021 Annual Report is out now. Read the full report HERE.
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With less than 50 days remaining in 2021, now is the time to make your end-of-year giving plans. Please consider supporting Reading Power in ways big and small… |
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Help Us Meet our #GivingTuesday Goal
On Tuesday, November 30th Reading Power will participate in Giving Tuesday by hosting a virtual fundraiser on Facebook. To help raise awareness of charitable causes and encourage donor generosity, Facebook is matching $8 million in qualifying donations made on Facebook during Giving Tuesday beginning at 7 AM CST.
Our goal is to raise $5,000 from donors, which Facebook will DOUBLE!
Your donation will help us EXTEND, EXPAND, AND ENHANCE our program to meet the needs of more students. Just $15 provides a student with a new book, $50 provides educational games. With $100, you can fund Author Days or $250 trains a new tutor.
How to help:
1. Follow and Like Reading Power on Facebook and Instagram
2. Log into Facebook starting at 7 AM CST on Tuesday, 11/30, and donate any amount on our #GivingTuesday post. Facebook will DOUBLE your donation!
3. Share our post with your friends and family to spread our fundraiser further!
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Make a Qualified Charitable Distribution to Reading Power
Are you, or someone you know 70.5 or older?
The Cares Act suspension of required minimum distribution (RMD) which was in effect for the tax year 2020 has not been extended into 2021. If you have an IRA account, you are of the age that RMDs are required, and you fail to withdraw an RMD for the tax year 2021 by the applicable deadline, the amount you should have withdrawn is taxed at 50%.
Consider making Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) as part of your RMD (required minimum distribution). An individual can donate up to $100,000 in IRA assets and $200,000 for a couple, directly to Reading Power, Inc. or other 501(c)(3) charities, and the amount donated will not count as taxable income.
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All Aboard: Lake Forest Market Station |
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Reading Power is thrilled to once again be participating in Lake Forest Market Station this year. Start your holiday shopping at the grand opening on Wednesday, November 24th, or every Thursday – Sunday through December 30th. Reading Power will be offering a variety of options to meet your shopping needs:
Cozy up with the classic holiday children’s book, Snowmen at Night prepackaged and ready to gift with adorable snowmen mugs and Ghirardelli hot chocolate inside.
Brighten someone’s season with a beautiful wax-covered amaryllis bulb and watch all season as it grows and blooms.
Give the reader in your life a Reading Power wooden bookmark and they will never lose their page again!
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Our Mission
Working in partnership with underserved schools,
Reading Power provides one-to-one tutoring during the school day
for children in prekindergarten through second grade.
Our mission is to accelerate children's literacy learning,
and to develop in them a love of reading and writing.
All children deserve to reach their intellectual potential.
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Reading Power Board of Directors |
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Kathy McFarland, PhD, Chairman, CEO
Marra Lochiatto, MBA, Vice Chair
Kathleen Cowie, Secretary
Jim Young, MBA, Treasurer
Ann Bates, EdD
John Davidson
Rob Davis, JD, MBA
Suzanne Surkamer Dobbins
Mary Jane Hender, EdD
Todd Litzsinger
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Rahul Malhotra, MBA
Melinda Mooney
Jacalyn Ramdin-Johnson, MBA
Beverly Raudabaugh, MBA
Frank Sibley
Arthur Turner
Mary Weber, MA
Tom Wood
Rev. Dr. Gordon Butcher, DMin, Emeritus
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Reading Power Program Staff |
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Lisa Bulzoni, MEd, Executive Director of Programs and Operations
Kate Burke, BS, Marketing and Communications Manager
Daniela Cruz, Program Assistant
Nancy Duffy, Resource Development Manager
Kristin Fine, MEd, Associate Director of Programs/Site Coordinator
Joanie Alley, MSEd, Assistant Site Coordinator
Kate Bulzoni, BA, Assistant Site Coordinator
Katie Burdiak, BA, Assistant Site Coordinator
Julie Collishaw, MA, Site Coordinator
Brooke Davis, MEd, Assistant Site Coordinator
Andrea Glickman, MAEd, Site Coordinator
Marla Guziec, BS, Site Coordinator
Mary Jane Hender, EdD, Site Coordinator
Joy McGreevy, BA, Site Coordinator
Cathy Plate, MSEd, Assistant Site Coordinator
Melayna Pokorny, BA, Office Assistant
Elizabeth Soling, AA, Assistant Site Coordinator
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SHARE this email with your friends and help us GROW to reach more children!
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