Reading 'Powers' its Way to a Successful Fall!
November 2020 Newsletter
Reading Power Wins $25,000 State Farm Neighborhood Assist Grant!!!
Reading Power is excited to announce our selection as a recipient of a $25,000 State Farm Neighborhood Assist grant! Thank you to all who voted on our behalf! We could not have achieved this important outcome without your help! Thanks to you, we can now do even more to improve childhood literacy.  Proceeds will benefit our pivot to virtual tutoring. 
Reading Power Turns the Page on COVID-19
Thanks to our diligent staff, many virtual tutoring pioneers, and help from family and friends, we have successfully turned the page on COVID-19 related school closures! Following an effective summer pilot program, Reading Power’s staff developed and provided over 900 hours of tutor training in support of our virtual tutoring launch on October 19.  Our students now log on and learn with Reading Power tutors, despite the current classroom pause.  

In the words of donor Addie Morrison, “…it is impressive to see how nimble Reading Power has been in pivoting to virtual tutoring to meet the needs of children who otherwise would fall further behind.” 

First Impressions of Virtual Tutoring from our Tutoring Pioneers

 “One of the things I love most about Reading Power tutoring is the relationships I am able to build with my students.  I worried that virtual tutoring would make this impossible, yet we are able to connect and do our work together!  While I long to tutor again in person, virtual tutoring has proven successful, and our students are already maintaining and improving their literacy skills.”
Kathleen Cowie, Board Member and Tutor
Tutoring by Zoom gives us new insight into the student's home environment, allowing us to better direct our literacy lessons for maximum relevance and benefit.  The virtual platform also allows me to continue helping my kiddos even when I am out of town so that no opportunity is missed. Yeah!”
Kay McCurdy, JD, Volunteer Tutor.

“To think last March most of us had never even heard of Zoom, and now we are virtual tutoring pros thanks to the fabulous training and “can do” attitude of our Reading Power staff. The smiling faces of all our scholars has made all the long hours so worthwhile!”
Laurel Taylor, MS, Volunteer Tutor

Thank you to our tutors! We cannot agree more!
Reading Power Selected for Carnegie Mellon Study

Adding to Reading Power's successful start to the new school year is news of our selection by Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper Graduate School of Business for a case study! Sharing our vision and commitment to improve childhood literacy and life outcomes, a team of Tepper MBA students are working to help us refine, scale and deliver our virtual tutoring to students in need, regardless of geographic constraints. Stay tuned for exciting details!
Donor Spotlight - Sue Mellado
Reading Power's November Donor Spotlight features Book Buddy donor Sue Mellado. Sue came to Reading Power after learning about us at her book club last spring.  Sue’s generous monthly Book Buddy donations provide for the purchase of a new book for a Reading Power student’s home library.  

“When my book club moderator mentioned Reading Power, I immediately knew that I wanted and needed to get involved in some way.  I am happy to hear that the children are getting books in North Chicago. It is such a worry that they will fall so far behind because of this pandemic. I have nine grandchildren, ages 6-20, and I have listened to their struggles with remote learning, but I am thankful that they have the resources to keep up with their education.” 
 
With an estimated 61% of the country’s low-income youth living in homes without books, donations such as Sue’s help break the link between poverty and poor academic outcomes.  Reading Power’s selection of high quality, high interest, age and demographically appropriate and relevant books for distribution to prekindergarten – second grade students and their teachers plays a critical role in augmenting childhood literacy, especially when classroom time is limited or unavailable.

To donate to Book Buddies, please visit:  www.readingpowerinc.org/donate
Giving Tuesday - Please Help Us Do More
December 1, 2020, has been designated as this year's "Giving Tuesday," a day to reflect on the power each of us has to do more to help those in need. Please watch your inbox for our special email, and don't forget to visit Reading Power's social media pages! Our "Power of a Dollar Campaign" offers many impactful options that allow each of us to help make a difference in the lives and literacy of children in need. 

Your support makes our work possible.  Our children need more. Together we can do more. 
Reading Power Included in Lake Forest Holiday Market


Reading power is excited be included among the nonprofit organizations in the upcoming Lake Forest pop-up holiday market.  Please stop by the East Lake Forest train station beginning Friday, November 27, to see and purchase our Reading Power custom-crafted wood veneer bookmarks and our new tribute/donation cards.  


Each makes a perfect holiday gift and helps us do more for childhood literacy.
Pop up shop is open Thursday - Saturday, 11:00am – 5:00pm, through January 8.
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.

Reading Power Board of Directors
Kathy McFarland, PhD, Chairman, CEO
Marra Lochiatto, MBA, Vice Chair
Ann Bates, EdD
Kathleen Cowie
John Davidson 
Mark Goodman, JD
Mary Jane Hender, EdD
Todd Litzsinger
Rahul Malhotra
Melinda Mooney
Beverly Raudabaugh, MBA
Frank Sibley
Arthur Turner
Mary Weber
Tom Wood
Jim Young
Rev. Dr. Gordon Butcher, DMin, Emeritus
Reading Power Program Staff
Lisa Bulzoni, MEd, Director of Programs
Daniela Cruz, Program Assistant
Nancy Duffy, Resource Development Manager

Joanie Alley, MSEd, Assistant Site Coordinator
Julie Collishaw, MA, Site Coordinator
Kristin Fine, MEd, Site Coordinator
Andrea Glickman, MAEd, Site Coordinator
Marla Guziec, BS, Site Coordinator
Mary Jane Hender, EdD, Site Coordinator
Cathy Keller, BS, Site Coordinator
Joy McGreevy, BA, Site Coordinator
Cathy Plate, MSEd, Assistant Site Coordinator
Kay Roller, Site Coordinator
Marion Schmidt, BS, Site Coordinator
Karen Uihlein, Assistant Site Coordinator
SHARE this email with your friends and help us GROW to reach more children! Learn more at READINGPOWERINC.ORG