READING IS FUNDAMENTAL (RIF)

Kappas have always been committed to sharing our time, talent and treasure with our communities, and at the 2004 Convention, we adopted RIF as our national philanthropy. Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF), founded in 1966, is the oldest and largest children's and family nonprofit literacy organization in the U.S. RIF programs annually serve 5.1 million children of all ages, most of whom are at risk of educational failure, with a focus on those from birth to age 11. RIF operates through a network of 450,000 volunteers from teachers to parents, librarians to caregivers and gives away 16.5 million books a year at more than 25,000 sites a year. RIF's accomplishments are due in part to the generous support of the U.S. Dept. of Education, corporations, foundations, community organizations and thousands of individuals. 

The Northwest Suburban Alumnae Association supports literacy by donating books in English and Spanish to early readers (kindergarten/first grade/2nd grade) to a school with underserved students. We are aiming to provide books for as many students as possible--one in Spanish and one in English. Please bring your chosen English language book(s) donation to our November or December meeting. Spanish language books will be purchased to add to the donation box.

In February 2010, we provided funds to help support the 1st Annual Family Reading Night RIF event at Volta School. The active members at Loyola and Northwestern put together a great event and we were pleased to help out!