READING IS FUNDAMENTAL
WHAT DOES RIF DO?
Helps young people discover the joy of reading.Gets kids reading.
Works to build a literate nation, one child at a time.
Helps young children want to read.
Helps youngsters read often and well.
Gives young people a chance to become lifelong readers and learners.
Provides access to books and the motivation to read them.
Works with local volunteers to make books available to children.
Provides motivational reading activities and books to children.
WHAT DOES RIF PROVIDE CHILDREN?
Books to choose, own, take home, read, and enjoy with their families.
Adult-led activities to awaken and nurture a desire to read.
Parental and community involvement to support children's ongoing reading development.
HOW URGENT IS THE CHALLENGE TO CREATE A NATION OF READERS?
More than 20 percent of the adult population read at the lowest level of literacy.
One of every three job applicants lacked sufficient reading skills to perform the jobs they sought.
An adult with poor literacy skills earns about $400 less per week than an adult with excellent literacy skills.
60 percent of high school seniors cannot read at the level they should, yet 89 percent of the jobs now being created require much higher level of literacy.
75 percent of fourth-grade students read below fourth grade level.
60 percent of fourth-graders watch three to six hours of televisions each day, yet only 46 percent report reading for fun on a daily basis.
Only half (of young children) are routinely read to by their parents.
To learn more about the National Reading Is Fundamental visit www.rif.org
