Funds raised will support RIF's programmatic work focused on
social and emotional learning and providing book choice and access
to children in our nation's most at-risk communities as RIF and
Macy's partner together to close the literacy gap
NEW
YORK and WASHINGTON,
Aug. 5,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing a multi-decade
partnership, Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) and Macy's have
successfully raised more than $1
Million in their latest campaign to support children's
literacy in communities nationwide. The funds, raised by Macy's
shoppers as part of a monthlong in-store round-up and online
donation campaign, will be used to provide books and other reading
resources to children around the country in under-resourced
communities, aiming to empower youth and inspire brighter futures
through literacy.
Earlier this year, RIF and Macy's re-launched their online
Social & Emotional Learning (SEL) Center and funds raised will
help RIF to continue to focus on the SEL Center with a deeper
inventory of book recommendations as well as enhancements to the
breadth and depth of RIF provided print and digital reading
resources. Funds will also support RIF's annual Rally to Read 100
six-month reading engagement initiative which provides free author
read-alouds and activities to motivate and engage young
readers.
Additionally, critical funds raised during the campaign will
further enable RIF to bolster their Race, Equity, and Inclusion
work, of which Macy's is a founding member, to supply diverse and
reflective books and reading resources to children in communities
across the nation with the largest literacy gap along racial
lines.
As of the company's social purpose platform, Mission Every
One, Macy's celebrates 21 years of partnership with RIF, the
nation's leading children's literacy organization. This enduring
partnership has helped inspire reading joy in students nationwide,
contributing more than $46 million
and facilitating over 16 million books distributed, as well as the
creation of more than 30,000 supplemental literacy resources and
tools offered free to all children on RIF's book resource website
at www.RIF.org/Literacy-Central. This shared effort advances
children's literacy across the country, providing essential reading
material and support for young readers to thrive and set themselves
up for success.
"The ability to read forms the bedrock of all education, opening
doors to knowledge and endless opportunity. RIF is honored to
celebrate 21 years of partnership and collaboration with Macy's, an
organization that embodies the spirit of social responsibility
while sharing our dedication to addressing the critical literacy
challenges facing our nation's youth," said RIF President &
CEO, Alicia Levi. "Thanks to Macy's
unwavering support, RIF is enabled to provide crucial literacy
resources to communities nationwide as we strive to narrow the
literacy gap by ensuring that every child has the chance to grow
and realize their own potential through reading."
"Through our social purpose platform, Mission Every One,
we are committed to empowering our future leaders of tomorrow to
help create a brighter future for our customers, colleagues and
communities we serve," said Sam Di
Scipio, Macy's, Inc. senior director, social impact. "For
more than two decades, our partnership with Reading Is Fundamental
has helped raise more than $46
million and provide access to more than 16 million critical
resources to parents and educators, and diverse books and supplies
to schools and communities nationwide. We are thrilled to continue
this longstanding partnership to inspire a lifelong love of reading
and help further close the literacy gap."
In a true demonstration of both organizations' shared emphasis
on commitment to local literacy initiatives, RIF assisted community
reading events from coast to coast, supporting read-alouds and
other reading fun in locales nationwide. Throughout the month,
thirteen Macy's locations were visited by RIF staff to express
gratitude and discuss the shared mission of closing the youth
literacy gap in the United States,
highlighting the partnership's significant impact throughout the
decades of working together.
About Reading Is Fundamental
Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) is committed to creating a nation
of lifelong readers by inspiring the joy of reading among all
children, putting them on the path to becoming skilled readers. We
provide free, high-quality content to engage children, educators,
families, and literacy advocates in the solution to the U.S.
literacy crisis—so that every child has the fundamentals for
success. As the nation's leading children's literacy nonprofit, RIF
has provided nearly 430 million books and reading resources to
nearly 190 million children since 1966, impacting generations of
children. Explore our results and learn more about partnering with
us at www.RIF.org.
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SOURCE Reading Is Fundamental