$55K headed to KC to help foster love of literacy in metro area children
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Around $55,000 is headed to Kansas City to help children across the metro foster a love of literacy and for their families to lay solid learning foundations.
Boston-based nonprofit Reach Out and Read has announced that $508,000 has been granted to local communities to promote early childhood literacy and healthy early relationships. Kansas City is expected to receive a $55,000 slice.
Organization leaders said the funds were made possible by an $8 million donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. In the metro, the investment is expected to support new partnerships with Head Start programs, increase access to free books and foster strong parent-child relationships.
“Local Affiliates are the backbone of our work, ensuring parents have the support and resources to build family connections and spark lifelong learning in their children,” said Erin Henry, Reach Out and Read’s Interim CEO and Chief Development Officer. “This investment allows us to scale our efforts and meet community needs, reinforcing our goal to provide every child with a strong foundation for success. We are deeply grateful for MacKenzie Scott’s support, which enables us to empower families nationwide.”
In Fiscal Year 2024, Reach Out and Read said its Kansas City branch completed more than 52,000 well-child visits as more than 51,000 books were given to around 26,000 children.
“As a pediatrician, I’ve witnessed firsthand the impact Reach Out and Read has on children and families,” said Reach Out and Read Board Chair Trude Haecker. “Each interaction we have is an opportunity to nurture a child’s potential and reinforce the loving bond between parent and child. Every book we give helps create a foundation for shared learning and moments that matter.”
Nationwide, the organization indicated that members continue to revolutionize pediatric care and offer critical resources for families to lay strong foundations for children. Nearly two-thirds of the children served are from low-income families.
For more information about Reach Out and Read, click HERE.
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