Congress is poised to take 16 million books out of the hands of 4.6 million poor children. We must stop them from doing that.

For the past two years I have had the privilege of giving out new books to some of the poorest children in the most blighted communities in Los Angeles at Christmastime. What you most need to know is that the eyes of these kids light up when you put a book in their hand. They say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ usually unprompted. They hold the books as if they were gold, clutching it into their little bodies. And then a few months later, the families write glorious thank you notes and you feel the best of America at work as it should. The charity I work with is a private one, but ‘Reading is Fundamental’ does this on a infinitely bigger scale.

To cop a phrase, when you see me you see the power of a fine public education system. I will go a step further and say, when you see me, you see the power of an early emphasis on reading. We were poor during my early childhood, but the walls of our apartment were lined with filled bookshelves. Those books were my salvation from the too tough project playground where I was bullied and outcast by peers.

Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF), founded in 1966, motivates children to read by working with them, their parents, and community members to make reading a fun and beneficial part of everyday life. RIF’s highest priority is reaching underserved children from birth to age 8. Through community volunteers in every state and U.S. territory, RIF provides 4.6 million children with 16 million new, free books and literacy resources each year. For more information, and to access reading resources, visit RIF’s website at www.RIF.org

So why would any program that encourages American children to read be eradicated by budget cuts?

From Carol H. Rasco, president and CEO, of Reading Is Fundamental (RIF):

“President Bush’s proposed budget calling for the elimination of Reading Is Fundamental’s (RIF) Inexpensive Book Distribution program would be devastating to the 4.6 million children and their families who receive free books and reading encouragement from RIF programs at nearly 20,000 locations throughout the U.S.”

“Unless Congress reinstates $26 million in funding for this program, RIF will not be able to distribute 16 million books annually to the nation’s youngest and most at-risk children. RIF programs in schools, childcare centers, migrant programs, military bases, and other locations serve children from low-income families, children with disabilities, foster and homeless children, and children without access to libraries.”

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