Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California is the

country’s largest RIF program. Our work to close the

opportunity gap one book at a time empowers young

minds to embrace the world of reading and develop a

love of learning.

 

 

As of our 50th anniversary in 2022, we had

served 1.7 million children and provided them

with more than 5.3 million books.

 

 

Based on the large body of research that shows the importance of early reading experiences, our Motivational Reading Program targets children in Prek – 8th grade at schools with a high proportion of students from low-income families. We also place an emphasis on reaching children with special needs through non-school settings such as John Tracy Center, Kid's Community Dental Clinic, Oak Tree Community Day School, and East Vally Community Health Centers.

 

RIFSoCal’s strategic plan is focused on continuous expansion. Between 2013 and 2018 we grew by an astonishing 39%!  In the 2018-2019 program year, our growth was highlighted by our continuing expansion to reach children in grades 4-8; prior to 2018 we were only serving children in PreK – 3rd grade. Our next step was to open our programs in Los Angeles and Orange County elementary schools to their entire school population (grades Pre-K - 6).

 

In 2019-2020, we began our work to increase equity and ensure that more children in low-income families succeed in school. We addressed the School Readiness gap that separates disadvantaged children from their more affluent peers by expanding our outreach to high-poverty pre-schools and Early Learning Centers to increase the number of children ages 0-5 in our Motivational Reading Program. Of the 35,863 children we are currently serving in our 2026-2027 program year, approximately 31% are 0-5. 

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Since 2014, we have served all PreK - 8th-grade students in the Mountain View School District of the city of El Monte.  Standardized test scores for El Monte Students in grades 3-8th illustrate that our Motivational Reading Program clearly contributes to Literacy improvement; the percentage who met or exceeded the standards in English Language Arts and Literacy increased from 30% in 2015 to 40% in 2019. 

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The results of our Spring 2026 survey of school principals and site coordinators clearly demonstrate the impact of the Motivational Reading Program:

 

Results from our Spring 2026 survey demonstrate we are achieving our goals: 100% of site coordinators and principals agreed the

program is an important literacy resource for

their site and that it increased students’ love

of reading. Ninety-nine percent reported

increases in students’ independent reading,

parent involvement in children’s literacy

development, and overall family and

community engagement with the school.

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Sample comments include:
 

• “The RIFSoCal program creates a culture of excitement for reading. Reading becomes associated with joy, ownership, and personal connection rather than obligation.”                                                                                                                              

• “The best thing I have seen is that the more children engage with books, the more they want to explore books and have their parents read to them. Also, since the children are expanding their home libraries the parents are seeing more value in taking their children to local libraries and participating in library activities.”                    

• “The RIFSoCal Program creates meaningful, sustained engagement between families and their children around books and literacy. Families are not just receiving books – they’re building routines that make reading a shared, joyful experience at home.”                                                                                                                                    

• “Children say it is because of the books they chose that they became readers – voracious readers!!!”

 

We are humbled to share an excerpt of two beautifully written testimonials;  the first by a current RIFSoCal board member, and the second by a RIF alumna:

 

“Born and raised in Los Angeles, I grew up as a ‘RIF Kid.’ Growing up, there was not any extra money to go shopping for books, so from the first time my little sister Veronica and I visited the RIF Bookmobile, it ignited a life-long passion for reading and learning. We both credit RIF for beginning and impacting our journey to be the first generation of our family to become college graduates! I am honored to be a RIFSoCal Board member and have an opportunity to give back and help grow RIF for the next generation of kids.”

-- Andrew Meneses, Former RIFSoCal Board Member

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Reading is synonymous with my personality.  Books are my passion, my profession, my identity. I firmly believe that without individuals and programs like RIF, my passion for books, and as a result, my life path, could have taken a different turn.

 

That day where I chose my book and wrote my name inside was one step in many that have led me to be the reader, free thinker, and librarian I am today.  I am so happy to be a “RIF Kid” and grateful that the program is still making a difference in children’s lives today. I’ll end with a quote from Children’s Author and literacy advocate Frank Serafini, “There is no such thing as a child who hates to read; there are only children who have not found the right book.”

Thank you, RIF, for finding me and other children the right books, it changed my life.

-- Carly Lamphere, Former RIFSoCal Board Member