August, 2015 

A Message from Executive Director Brian Gallagher...

Dear Colleagues,

It has been an exciting couple of weeks following the publication of Dr. John Hutton's research study on brain activity in 3- to 5-year-old children as they listened to stories.
 
This study is significant for Reach Out and Read on several levels. Firstly, and most importantly, it is the first study showing that reading aloud to young children has a direct effect on their brain development. It adds valuable weight to our current body of evidence showing that encouraging families to read aloud to their children will improve their reading skills.
 
Secondly, Dr. Hutton's research was funded in part by Reach Out and Read through our Young Investigator Awards (YIA) Program. We initiated this in 2011 as part of our commitment to establishing an evidence base for the effectiveness of our program, and to investigating the value of early literacy interventions. It is gratifying that our investment has supported this groundbreaking research.
 
Thirdly, the results of this study have generated significant media interest (see articles in CNN, Huffington Post Parent, and the NY Times). 
 
I am also excited to welcome two of our newest leaders within the network: Laurie Williams, Executive Director of Reach Out and Read Greater New York and Molly Young, Executive Director of Reach Out and Read Arkansas.
 
It's been a productive summer.  I look forward to discussions with you, in group calls, individually, and where and when possible in person, as we continue to make progress towards our long-term goals.

With appreciation,
Brian  
  
Start-Up Timeline

Applications/Letters of Support/Disbursements due: 9/14
Application review: 9/16
Coalitions notified of Approved needs training/Approved wait-listed sites: 9/17
Scholastic account request sent for active sites: 9/17
Coalitions notified of active sites: 9/24

Progress Reports, w-9s and IRS letters
Reminder: Your July 2015 Progress Reports are due Sept 1st. Please log into myror to complete yours today. 
 
We are also collecting your w-9s and IRS letters of determination - due Sept 1st - please send to the Progams team.

Our latest blog post
Guest blog: Reach Out and Read National Medical Director Dr. Perri Klass M.D. examines two new studies that tell us more about how reading aloud results in early brain and language development.

(this article was originally posted in the NY Times)
Reach Out and Read in the news

Reach Out and Read press coverage in June/July 2015.

National Center and Coalition Fundraising

Please review this updated

list before approaching a new funder. The list includes all proposals for $10K+ in the last 5 years. Contact Maddy if you have questions!

 
Prizes, Awards, & Endorsements
- a new document for your fundraising packet

Reach Out and Read has accumulated a wealth of prestigious prizes and awards, significant endorsements, and national media attention over the years. We have gathered together some of the most notable of these into a downloadable document that that would be useful to include in your fundraising packets. Please take a look!
Saying "thank you" to 
Ralph Lauren and Scholastic Inc

Providers, parents and children sent us their messages of thanks to Ralph Lauren and Scholastic Inc for the donation of 100,000 books. We compiled some of these into a "thank you" video and will pass all the messages along to Ralph Lauren and Scholastic.

We have just signed a contract to continue the partnership with Ralph Lauren and Scholastic Inc for another year.
This new book from Dana Suskind, founder and director of the 30 Million Words Initiative is an interesting read.

It translates the powerful science behind children's brain development, and the way language shapes the brain
and academic achievement.  Told through stories, it is about elevating all of early childhood and the power of parents, and includes discussion related to Reach Out and Read.

Thirty Million Words will be released on Sept 8, but  can be pre-ordered for $15.40, half the list price, from Amazon.
Reach Out and Read
89 South St, Suite 201, Boston 02111
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