Cathy Dean Gafford Director

RIF FACTS

*Reading Is Fundamental is the nation’s largest and oldest non-profit children’s literacy organization. By the end of the school year 2000-2001, Reading Is Fundamental will have put over 200 million books in the hands and homes of America’s children without cost to them or their families.

*RIF brings together all the elements that major studies identify as critical to assure that children grow up reading: access to books, incentives to read them, books in the home, parental involvement and reaching youngsters early.

*Reading Is Fundamental’s efforts have earned an A+ rating from the American Institute of Philanthropy, a ranking as one of the nations ‘s most credible charities in a survey by the Chronicles of Philanthropy, and a Parenting magazine citation as one of the 15 charities "that really help kids".

*JEAN DEAN RIF/ALABAMA KIWANIS FOUNDATION is the largest RIF project in the nation serving pre-schoolers. Annually, since it began in school year 1990-91, JEAN DEAN RIF has averaged giving well over 14,000 at-risk young children, primarily 3 to 5 year olds in Alabama Head Starts, Even Starts and state sponsored daycares, three quality, age-appropriate books each to have at home. In addition, the project makes an in-kind donation to Alabama Head Starts of about half a million dollars each year, thus justifying grants of 4 times that amount, or about $2 million dollars to help at-risk children. Over 2000 readers travel to their local RIF sites around the state three times each year to read to the children and give them books. Each year, the JEAN DEAN RIF Migrant program, started in the summer of 1995, gives over 200 Spanish speaking youngsters in Blount and St.Clair counties books. (The books are printed in Spanish.) Each year through the Open Book site at Children’s Hospital, set up in 1995, over 11,000 children receiving medical care also receive books. (Several Kiwanis Clubs in Missouri and Nebraska serve their local Head Starts as sites of JEAN DEAN RIF. The Ottawa Kiwanis Club also sponsors a site.)

*Programs served say the 3 main benefits are: 1) important people in the community coming into the centers and showing the children they care about them- and- care about reading, 2) putting books in the home allows family literacy, and 3) the in-kind donation greatly enhances the benefits which can be made available for the children.

*JEAN DEAN RIF was named one of 12 Leaders for Literacy nationwide in 1993-94, nominated as a Point of Light and complimented by President George Bush, highlighted as "ONE OF 5 IDEAS WORTH SHARING" by U.S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley in his June 1995 Satellite Town Meeting which was aired nationwide, and has been recognized by Kiwanis International, the National Head Start Association, the Alabama Department of Education and the Alabama Reading Incentive Council. JEAN DEAN RIF efforts were noted in the 1998 USA Weekend "National Make A Difference Day" issue.

JEAN DEAN RIF, a part of the Alabama Kiwanis Foundation, is tax exempt and donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 848, Opelika, AL 36803-0848. All volunteers are welcomed. The project is able to successfully serve the many at-risk young children in Alabama through the assistance of many partnerships. These partners include other members of the K family, including Golden K, Circle K, Key Club and Builders Clubs, the Alabama Power Foundation and Service Organizations, the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation and Alabama Trial Lawyers Association, Altrusas, Junior League, Ten Times One Federated Clubs, Emblem Clubs, IMPACT, various fraternities and sororities, Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts, church and retired teacher groups, and many other businesses, trusts, foundations and clubs. The program is also assisted by a federal grant.

*JEAN DEAN RIF was started as a part of the Kiwanis International YOUNG CHILD (O-5): PRIORITY ONE program in school year 1990-91 by Joe Dean, who was then Governor of the Alabama District of Kiwanis. The program is named after his wife, Jean Torbert Dean, who died in 1990. She strongly supported Kiwanis and had been a life long advocate for children. Joe Dean has been recognized by the Alabama Head Start Association, received an Honorable Mention in the 1998 Anne Richardson National RIF Volunteer of the Year Awards and was honored as a Daily Point of Light in 1999.