About Us
History
Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California will have an enormous impact on children, families, and communities in 2010-2011. Believing that the achievement of all children must matter to all of us, more than 300,000 new, free books of choice will be shared with over 100,000 children in 285 economically disadvantaged schools, Head Start sites and social service programs all over Greater Los Angeles.
In 1966, former teacher Margaret McNamara brought a bag of used books to four boys in Washington, D.C. whom she tutored in reading. When she told the children they could each pick out a book to keep, their astonishment and delight led her to discover that these children, and many of their classmates, had never owned a single book. By that summer, Mrs. McNamara had gathered a group of school volunteers, and on November 3, 1966, Reading Is Fundamental became a reality. This original book distribution and reading program is now the largest children’s literacy organization in the nation.
Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California started in 1972 and has grown to become the largest multi-site program. As an independent 501c3 organization with its own Board of Directors, Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, we have been cited as a model for running a successful multi-site program by RIF and both our volunteers and programs have received national recognition for their excellence. In June 2007, we received Program Excellence Honors from national RIF in a ceremony in Washington, D.C. Only 25 of RIF’s more than 4,100 chapters received this honor.
We have attained our Dream of reaching over 100,000 kids with new, free, beautiful books. Our next goal is to reach 200,000 kids by 2016. Thank you to all who have helped make this dream come true!
Please DREAM with us. We cannot realize our 200,000 Dreams Campaign without you!