I'm so thankful that RIF took over the Everybody Wins! program when Beginning with Books went under. I started two years ago and I'm glad I can continue to make strides with my reading buddy from last year. I think that RIF has added great resources for the mentors to cultivate their relationship with the student, which is really half of what the program is all about!
Cindy Krappweis, the Executive Director of Reading is FUNdamental Pittsburgh, has incredible energy. She exudes this natural light that I can only imagine is a strong motivator for engaging children in the excitement and importance of reading. The programs offered that actively incorporates parent involvement in reading with their children provide great opportunity to foster a life-long love for learning.
RIF Pittsburgh has been an excellent organization that we feel privileged to have the opportunity to collaborate with. The staff is enthusiastic and supportive. The website and eNewsletter are filled with excellent reading related activities. We feel that RIF has encouraged Brightside Academy teachers, families, and children to be excited about reading!
One of the greatest strengths of RIF Pittsburgh is the organization's commitment to individualized service. The populations being served are taken into consideration, and teachers working with the students daily are asked for input on the types of books ordered and distributed. In this way, schools with high minority populations are given books by African-American authors. By the same token, schools working to boost their reading scores are able to request non-fiction books. It is this acknowledgement of varying needs that enables RIF Pittsburgh to make a significant impact on the lives of children in collaboration with their partners!
RIF Pittsburgh is a great organization fostering lifelong readers by giving children books three times a school year. My school is a distribution site this year and we are very excited about receiving our books. This organization provides books for students who may not have had book ownership before. This year volunteers will visit each site to support the book distribution by doing an activity with a classroom.