Literacy Programs
Reach Out and Read
Reach Out and Read is a nonprofit organization that gives young children a foundation for success by incorporating books into pediatric care and encouraging families to read aloud together. The Reach Out and Read evidence-based program builds on the unique relationship between parents and medical providers to develop critical early reading skills in children, beginning in infancy. As recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, Reach Out and Read incorporates early literacy into pediatric practice, equipping parents with tools and knowledge to ensure that their children are prepared to learn when they start school. This program gives age appropriate books to children of low income families at each well-check visit they make to see their pediatrician.
Imagination Library
Launched by country music star Dolly Parton and The Dollywood Foundation, the Imagination Library provides pre-school aged children with a free hardcover book every month from birth to the age of five. Over 900,000 children under the age of five receive books from the Imagination Library each month in the United Sates. Over 40 million books have been delivered to children since the program began in 1996. Currently, the Imagination Library has programs in over 1,700 communities across Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
