Welcome to RIFSoCal
RIF was recognized as the Most Trusted Brand and Brand of the Year in the Youth Non-Profit category in the 2024 Harris Poll EquiTrend Study
This Is Why We Do What We Do!
Paramount HS and EHS First Motivational Reading Event. www.voala.org
2023-2024 Annual Site Orientation
Carl Sagan Talks Abouth Books
AMAZING ANSWER
LITERACY THROUGH THE ARTS
Carol Henault, Executive Director, firmly believes the arts can play a significant role in inspiring children’s love of reading. “The Word Art contest allowed children the space and time to be curious and creative, encouraging them to continue their discovery of new worlds through books to become our readers for tomorrow.”
MELROSE HEIGHTS
MAGAZINE & TV
Carol Henault, the Executive Director of Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California, speaks with enthusiasm and a sense of delight as she describes her journey in the nonprofit world.
Charity Navigator Gives RIFSoCal a
perfect 100-point overall score
CharityWatch serves only the interests of the donating public—donors just like you. CharityWatch's ratings do not merely repeat what a charity reports about itself in its "impact" reports or tax filings using simplistic or automated formulas. They dive deep into a charity's audited financial statements, tax filings, state solicitation filings, and other information so they can let you know how efficiently a charity will use your donations to fund the programs you want to support. CharityWatch exposes nonprofit abuses and advocates for your interests as a donor.
Charities rated at 100 execute their missions in a fiscally responsible way while adhering to good governance and other best practices that minimize the chance of unethical activities. RIFSoCal has earned a perfect score in CharityWatch's Star Rating System for its Financial Health and its Accountability & Transparency. Less than one percent of the thousands of charities rated by Charity Navigator have earned perfect scores.  
Charity Navigator applauds these charities for exceeding industry standards and outperforming other organizations performing similar work.
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Learn more by clicking on the
Charity Navigator Logo.
RIFSoCal Celebrated 50 Years of
Sharing the Magic of Books and Literacy
As of our 50th anniversary in 2022, we have served 1.7 million children and provided them with more than 5.3 million books.
RIFSoCal Celebrated 50 Years of Sharing the Magic of Books and Literacy
with a Wine & Design fundraiser on Sunday, June 5, 2022, at the Calabasas home of Board President Alva Sachs and her husband Paul.
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Hugs and excitement permeated the afternoon as Board members and guests celebrated the afternoon in person after two years of zooming.
Amy Jurist, former RIF KID and Chef/Owner of Amy’s Culinary Adventures (https://www.amysculinaryadventures.com), voted #1 Caterer on the LA CityVoter Hotlists and Wedding Wire Couple’s Choice winner for the last 8 years, created an amazingly delicious array of goodies.
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Wine & Design’s (www.wineanddesign.com) local artist helped us create memories - and masterpieces - of the day.
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Gina Main (www.ginamainphotography.com) captured the afternoon’s excitement.
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Board member, Angie Flores, assembled the most diverse and exciting silent auction imaginable!
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With help and support from RIFSoCal Board members Jen Gresenz, Angie Flores, Teresa Verduzco Lopez, Andrew Meneses, Alva Sachs, Leat Regwan Phnesha Jefferson, and Mike Chavez, and Carol Henault, Executive Director, Oscar Cux, Program Services Manager, and Raymond Gonis, Book Program Manager, our 50th Anniversary Celebration was a smashing success.
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ONWARDS to another 50 years of inspiring Readers for Tomorrow!
2022-2023 Virtual Orientation
Tell Me Another Story, is an inspiring 30-minute overview of diversity in children’s literature that highlights the dedication of intellectual and artistic giants, past and present, whose efforts have uplifted children’s literature, from W.E.B. Du Bois, Augusta Baker, Pura Belpré and Ezra Jack Keats, to Pat Cummings, Marley Dias, Grace Lin, Christopher Myers, and Andrea Davis Pinkney. It clarifies the enormous need for us to tell our children another, more inclusive story. This is a film you will want to share with your students, colleagues and friends.
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Produced by the EJK Foundation, in association with the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection and The Office Performing Arts + Film Tell Me Another Story was directed by Damani Baker and edited by Jon Henry Fine, with original music by Meshell Ndegeocello.
Watch Trailer & More Information or Watch Tell Me Another Story
Latest News & Info
Click on the image for more information
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2021-2022
Annual Site Orientation
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Click on the image for more information
Applications for RIFSoCal's
Motivational Reading Program
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Click on the link indicating your school district to start your application process
2020-2021 Virtual Orientation
A message from Carol Henault, our Executive Director
Hello Everyone,
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When schools closed so suddenly in March, and we were forced to close our warehouse, we had no time to plan how we could continue to provide books to students.
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I am determined to get books - to read for fun - to your children at this critical time. Children are isolated at home, with school and public libraries closed, and we have no idea how long this situation will continue. Many parents feel their kids are spending inordinate amounts of time distance learning online, so when it comes to reading, they want them to have real books and a break from the screen.
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As we begin to plan for the upcoming program year, RIFSoCal has decided that until it is safe for you - and our staff - to visit the warehouse to choose books, we will have “curbside, no contact, book pickups.” Once you have made an appointment to pick-up your books with Raymond Gonis, our Book Program Manager (Raymond.gonis@rifsocal.org or 323-890-0876), he will choose a wide selection of books for you, box them, and have the boxes outside the warehouse for you to pick up at your appointment time.
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As you will likely not be able to hold traditional Motivational Reading Events in the new school year, you may distribute the books to the children in whatever way you and your school decide is best. One option may be to include the books in the lunch bags parents are picking up at your school. What is most important is getting the books in the homes of your students.
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You may make an appointment to pick up this program year’s 3rd distribution books once our book inventory audit has been completed in early July. That way children will have a new book to read over the summer. If this does not work for you and your school, your 3rd distribution books can be picked up at the same time you pick up the 2020-2021 program year’s 1st distribution books, beginning in mid-September.
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I am always available to answer any questions you might have as we move forward together, please email me at carol.henault@rifsocal.org and we can arrange a time to talk.
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My thoughts are with us all at this most difficult time,
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Carol K. Henault
Executive Director
RIF was recognized as the Most Trusted Brand and Brand of the Year in the Youth Non-Profit category in the 2018 Harris Poll EquiTrend Study
Jake Kazanjian
It makes our hearts warm to remember Jake’s firm belief in Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California’s mission to promote literacy and motivate children to read. As a long time Board member and Book Warehouse volunteer, he just wanted to help provide brand new books for as many children as possible. Jake, who passed away in October of 2018, had arranged for his estate to donate over $13,000 to ensure our work continues. The RIFSoCal Board, staff and the children we serve pay tribute to Jake’s vision of literacy for every child.
Suzi Coscarelli
It is with bittersweet feelings that we say so long for now to Suzi Coscarelli on her retirement from Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California.
Suzi has been a driving force of our nonprofit since 2004. As Community Relations Manager, she helped increase our volunteer base and programming. Her smile, her amazing personality, and her love and devotion to the children and our schools has been remarkable. As the hostess, who welcomed all to our annual RIFSoCal Orientations, she made everyone feel right at home.
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Suzi leaves an indelible imprint on our RIFSoCal family.
The RIFSoCal Board of Directors and staff wish Suzi the best of luck in the next new and exciting chapter in her life.
Latest Photos
Why We Love To Read
To promote literacy and motivate children to read by providing new books to create home libraries for underserved children in Southern California.
"I want to read with my family so they
could be better readers like me."
Contact Information
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Carol Henault
Executive Director
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Oscar Cux
Program Service Manager
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Raymond Gonis
Warehouse Manager