Jean Dean RIF Opelika, Alabama

A million books --- a million opportunities for Alabama’s at-risk young children- thanks to Kiwanians and friends!
     “By the end of this school year, Alabama Kiwanians and their “friends” (a variety of community partners had given at-risk young children across the state over ONE MILLION quality, age- appropriate books since 1991,” reports Cathy Gafford, Director, Jean Dean RIF/Kiwanis. It is the largest RIF project in the nation serving pre-schoolers.   “Born out of the Kiwanis International Young Child ( 0-5) : Priority One program, Jean Dean RIF/Kiwanis makes it possible for local Kiwanians to positively impact literacy in their communities,” continues Gafford. “Putting books in these children’s homes, many times, makes ’family literacy ‘ possible, and every time increases the child’s opportunity to learn to read.” As Huntsville West Kiwanian Richard Hartz put it, “We can't take the bad things out of a child's life, but we can always put good things in."“Kiwanians and the many ‘friends of Kiwanis” are indeed making a difference in the number of households who have books in their home in Alabama and the number of families who are reading to their children,” reports Gafford. “JEAN DEAN RIF books allow these children to be familiar with books before entering kindergarten. … Kiwanians care a great deal about our youngest Alabamians and are pleased to be able to work with other clubs, businesses, foundations and individuals to give ALL of our children an opportunity to start school with the necessary tools to be ready to learn. At these RIF distributions, at-risk children receive books to keep and enjoy at home ... for many of these children, the FIRST and ONLY BOOKS in their homes! The book distributions (which include the just -chosen books being read to the children) not only show children adults in their communities care about reading and care about them, but also make family literacy possible in many cases by putting books in the homes. More households across the state have received Kiwanis RIF books than the number of functional illiterate adults in the state. Kiwanians are making sure children see the fun in reading early and have the benefit of books in their homes to enjoy. Literacy continues to be an important factor in success in school and life. National Research shows putting books in children’s homes greatly impacts their interest in reading and also that of their families .. and greatly increases the number who learn to read.” Research shows early literacy development produces later reading successes. Kiwanians want to help children have every opportunity to succeed.” The in-kind donation from the books and time given also increases grant eligibility in the sites served and greatly enhances other benefits which can be made available to the children and their families.
     By May 2008, Jean Dean RIF/Kiwanis, had given three books each to 350,000 at-risk young children in Alabama since ‘91. Each school year, about 75,000 quality, age-appropriate books are given to over 25,000 at-risk young children in Head Starts, Even Starts, state sponsored daycares, state early intervention centers, daycare homes, housing projects and some primary schools. In Jean Dean RIF Family of Readers sites, the parents of 6000 of these children participate in reading challenges at home and receive special early literacy training to assist in family literacy efforts. These sites also have access to RIF Lending Libraries provided by a partnership with American Honda and Footlocker. Through Jean Dean RIF Shared Beginnings, 500 teen parents (age 12-18) and 500 of their babies receive three books each and take part in reading related activities. 200 Hispanic young children also get books in the Jean Dean RIF Migrant program in Blount, St. Clair and Baldwin Counties. Patients in Children’s Hospital in Birmingham have also received books over the years through Jean Dean RIF Open Book.
    Through Jean Dean RIF/Kiwanis, children receive three books each in well over 550 sites around Alabama each year. Over 2000 Kiwanians and “friends of Kiwanis” spend at least 6000 hours annually reading to the children because the project brings together all of 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. By May ‘08, the combination of giving books and time spent reading since the project began will amount to an in-kind donation of about $10 million which could have allowed Head Starts to justify over $40 million in grants for additional benefits for the children and their families.
    Started in ‘90-’91 by Joe Dean, then Governor of the Alabama District of Kiwanis, the program is named after Dean’s wife, Jean Torbert Dean, who died in 1990. This effort is the signature service project of the Alabama Kiwanis Foundation.   Tax deductible donations can be mailed to Jean Dean RIF, PO Box 848, Opelika, AL 36803-0848. Volunteers are always welcomed by calling 334-749-5631 or emailing jeandeanrif@bellsouth.net.

IT WAS A GREAT DAY TO BE A KIWANIAN. ANY DAY YOU CAN BRING A SMILE TO A CHILD'S FACE IS A GREAT DAY!!!! SPECIAL THANKS TO THE 13 KIWANIANS WHO TOOK TIME FROM THEIR BUSY SCHEDULES TO DO JUST THAT TODAY. THE SMILES OF THE KIDS AT HEAD START WERE WORTH OUR TIME! IF YOU MISSED IT THEN YOU JUST MISSED IT (THE SMILES). YOUR LOSS!
Robert Helms

Terri Williams-JoAnn Lanier


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A Special Thanks To Beulah High School Capital Campaign Kiwanis Clubs have partnered with local businesses for years to help pay for the books for the children served through Jean Dean RIF. Purchasing the books through group buys and sending them to local areas saves at least 50% on the cost of books for Alabama's at-risk young children. Having the program administered from one location assures stability and longevity for the program and saves a lot of set-up time for local volunteers. It's a necessary part of the program that most funders, volunteers and sites served never see. A big, on-going need for the next 3 to 5 years will be helping to conclude the first ever Jean Dean RIF Capital Campaign! In August '04, Jean Dean RIF/Alabama Kiwanis Foundation kicked off a $190,000 capital campaign to pay off the loan (& interest) on permanent warehouse/office space for JEAN DEAN RIF, make repairs as needed, pay maintenance on the facility and begin to develop a reserve fund for the building after the loan is satisfied. Early on, $15,000 was raised. The plan is to raise at least an additional $35,000 a year for the capital campaign to meet our obligations and pay off the loan by August '09 . Our goal is to raise an average of $64,000 a year for three years so we can save over $10,000 in interest and be ready to make expected roof repairs and develop a small reserve for other repairs as needed. We need your help!!! Anything you could do now or over the next 5 years would be a big help in the successful completion of our first ever Capital Campaign for JEAN DEAN RIF. Please make your checks payable to: Alabama Kiwanis Foundation/Jean Dean RIF (For: "Capital Campaign") and mail to PO Box 848, Opelika, AL 36803-0848 All donations to this campaign are tax deductible because Jean Dean RIF is an effort of the Alabama Kiwanis Foundation which is a 501C3 Foundation. Specific donation amounts will be confidential unless publicity is requested by the donor. Donors names will be listed on a plaque at the building unless donors choose to be anonymous. Donations of $5,000 and up: The Three Billy Goats Gruff Society ("Big Brothers" meeting special needs) Donations of $3,000 - $4,999: The Corduroy Society (Sustaining "friends"- always there to help) Donations of $1,001-$2,999 The Clifford Society ("Taking a big bite" out of our capital debt) Donations of $500-$1,000: The Very Hungry Caterpillar Society (Eating away "every day" at what is left to pay) Donations of $100-$499: The Little Red Hen Society (Working together to finish the job) Donations up to $99: The House That Jack Built (Lots of individuals building those interest payments)	Thanks To All Our Supporters BIG EVENT Monte Atkins, President Auburn Kiwanis Club presents $2,000 check. September 30, 2006 Volunteer Group Auburn Kiwanis Club Gives A Hand Head Start Award Pat Padgett- Auburn Kiwanis Club	Silent Auction Kiwanis District Convention Gadsden, Al-August 1-3 Auburn Football Autographed Tiger Print 13x19 Hummingbird Print 13x19 Tiger 13x19 Print Many More Items to Bid On Cathy's Message A million books --- a million opportunities for Alabama’s at-risk young children- thanks to Kiwanians and friends! “By the end of this school year, Alabama Kiwanians and their “friends” (a variety of community partners had given at-risk young children across the state over ONE MILLION quality, age- appropriate books since 1991,” reports Cathy Gafford, Director, Jean Dean RIF/Kiwanis. It is the largest RIF project in the nation serving pre-schoolers. “Born out of the Kiwanis International Young Child ( 0-5) : Priority One program, Jean Dean RIF/Kiwanis makes it possible for local Kiwanians to positively impact literacy in their communities,” continues Gafford. “Putting books in these children’s homes, many times, makes ’family literacy ‘ possible, and every time increases the child’s opportunity to learn to read.” As Huntsville West Kiwanian Richard Hartz put it, “We can't take the bad things out of a child's life, but we can always put good things in."“Kiwanians and the many ‘friends of Kiwanis” are indeed making a difference in the number of households who have books in their home in Alabama and the number of families who are reading to their children,” reports Gafford. “JEAN DEAN RIF books allow these children to be familiar with books before entering kindergarten. … Kiwanians care a great deal about our youngest Alabamians and are pleased to be able to work with other clubs, businesses, foundations and individuals to give ALL of our children an opportunity to start school with the necessary tools to be ready to learn. At these RIF distributions, at-risk children receive books to keep and enjoy at home ... for many of these children, the FIRST and ONLY BOOKS in their homes! The book distributions (which include the just -chosen books being read to the children) not only show children adults in their communities care about reading and care about them, but also make family literacy possible in many cases by putting books in the homes. More households across the state have received Kiwanis RIF books than the number of functional illiterate adults in the state. Kiwanians are making sure children see the fun in reading early and have the benefit of books in their homes to enjoy. Literacy continues to be an important factor in success in school and life. National Research shows putting books in children’s homes greatly impacts their interest in reading and also that of their families .. and greatly increases the number who learn to read.” Research shows early literacy development produces later reading successes. Kiwanians want to help children have every opportunity to succeed.” The in-kind donation from the books and time given also increases grant eligibility in the sites served and greatly enhances other benefits which can be made available to the children and their families. By May 2008, Jean Dean RIF/Kiwanis, had given three books each to 350,000 at-risk young children in Alabama since ‘91. Each school year, about 75,000 quality, age-appropriate books are given to over 25,000 at-risk young children in Head Starts, Even Starts, state sponsored daycares, state early intervention centers, daycare homes, housing projects and some primary schools. In Jean Dean RIF Family of Readers sites, the parents of 6000 of these children participate in reading challenges at home and receive special early literacy training to assist in family literacy efforts. These sites also have access to RIF Lending Libraries provided by a partnership with American Honda and Footlocker. Through Jean Dean RIF Shared Beginnings, 500 teen parents (age 12-18) and 500 of their babies receive three books each and take part in reading related activities. 200 Hispanic young children also get books in the Jean Dean RIF Migrant program in Blount, St. Clair and Baldwin Counties. Patients in Children’s Hospital in Birmingham have also received books over the years through Jean Dean RIF Open Book. Through Jean Dean RIF/Kiwanis, children receive three books each in well over 550 sites around Alabama each year. Over 2000 Kiwanians and “friends of Kiwanis” spend at least 6000 hours annually reading to the children because the project brings together all of 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. By May ‘08, the combination of giving books and time spent reading since the project began will amount to an in-kind donation of about $10 million which could have allowed Head Starts to justify over $40 million in grants for additional benefits for the children and their families. Started in ‘90-’91 by Joe Dean, then Governor of the Alabama District of Kiwanis, the program is named after Dean’s wife, Jean Torbert Dean, who died in 1990. This effort is the signature service project of the Alabama Kiwanis Foundation. Tax deductible donations can be mailed to Jean Dean RIF, PO Box 848, Opelika, AL 36803-0848. Volunteers are always welcomed by calling 334-749-5631 or emailing jeandeanrif@bellsouth.net. Dothan Kiwanis Visits Headstart IT WAS A GREAT DAY TO BE A KIWANIAN. ANY DAY YOU CAN BRING A SMILE TO A CHILD'S FACE IS A GREAT DAY!!!! SPECIAL THANKS TO THE 13 KIWANIANS WHO TOOK TIME FROM THEIR BUSY SCHEDULES TO DO JUST THAT TODAY. THE SMILES OF THE KIDS AT HEAD START WERE WORTH OUR TIME! IF YOU MISSED IT THEN YOU JUST MISSED IT (THE SMILES). YOUR LOSS! *Robert Helms* Terri Williams-JoAnn Lanier

Home Photos Capital Campaign Links Volunteers Direction Contact Us Ride to Read Pictures Donate Now

Silent Auction Kiwanis District Convention Gadsden, Al-August 1-3 Auburn Football Autographed Tiger Print 13x19 Hummingbird Print 13x19 Tiger 13x19 Print Many More Items to Bid On Cathy's Message

Home Photos Capital Campaign Links Volunteers Direction Contact Us
Ride to Read Pictures Donate Now

Silent Auction
Kiwanis District Convention
Gadsden, Al-August 1-3

Auburn Football Autographed

Tiger Print 13x19

Hummingbird Print
13x19

Tiger 13x19 Print
Many More Items
to Bid On
Cathy's Message