by Matthew Jones

The children are lined up outside of Esperanza Elementary School’s main auditorium, waiting for room assignments.  They are eager and energetic – and as time goes by, their low whispers rise to a dull roar.  Juan Gonzales, the school’s assistant principal, is helping to sort the children into smaller reading groups.

But this is not a school day – it’s Saturday, and these children are not required to be here.  They’re here voluntarily, as part of a grassroots literacy effort led by Reading to Kids (R2K) – an organization dedicated to instilling within underprivileged children a love of reading.

On the second Saturday of every month, volunteers from R2K spend the morning reading to children from grades K–5 at four schools within the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) – Esperanza Elementary School, Magnolia Elementary School, Gratts Elementary School, and Noble Elementary School.  Each month, about 250 readers gather to read to what sometimes adds up to more than 900 kids.

“Both the students and the volunteers have an absolute blast,” says Mary Abdo, program director, R2K.  “It’s just amazing to see all these kids show up to read, when they could be home watching cartoons.  But as much fun as it is, it just goes to show you how much we’re really addressing a pressing need in the community.”

Indeed, the level of needs in these largely Hispanic Los Angeles communities is great.  Most of the kids who participate with R2K speak Spanish as a primary language, and many have a very limited understanding of English (84 percent of the students speak English as a second language).  91 percent of the children qualify for free or reduced meals, because they come from poor households.

“These students are in dire need of economic and academic attention,” continued Abdo.  “They’re extremely smart, intuitive and caring kids, but they’re still scoring well below the national averages in standardized tests in reading, and most are performing one or two years below their grade level.”

The tide, however, is turning.  After five years of bringing volunteers into the schools, R2K is seeing the fruits of its labors.  Standardized reading scores are beginning to rise, volunteer numbers have increased steadily; and contributions from corporate and community donors have jumped significantly.

All across the participating R2K schools, the Academic Performance Index (API) has increased by an average of 65 points in the last year.  While the overall numbers are still below where they should be, the dramatic increases ranked highly in comparison with other non-R2K schools. Magnolia enjoyed a 95-point increase – the fifth highest increase of all 432 LAUSD elementary schools.  While many factors come into play with these improvements, R2K undeniably plays a part.

“In the last year, our school added an additional 52 points to our API, exceeding our 2003 target growth by more than 200 percent,” said Sal Rodriguez, Principal of Noble Elementary School.  “I can’t help but feel that R2K contributed to our success.”

In the Books

A key contributor to that success likely includes the program’s efforts to promote reading at home.  Each month, participating children receive an age-appropriate book to take home for their personal library.  If a child attends the R2K reading clubs for six years (from grades K-5), he or she will be given 72 books.  This is important, according to the National Commission of Reading, which found that more than 60 percent of low-income homes do not have age-appropriate books for children.

The children aren’t the only ones that walk away with new books – each of R2K’s four schools receives books for its library.  To date, the schools have received hundreds of library books.

Beyond the books and improved standardized scores, school officials cite additional benefits of R2K.  Many of these children are linguistically and culturally isolated, and the program helps bring a new world to them – a world rich in diversity and positive cultural interaction.

“To look around the room at the reading events and see all the different faces, all the different cultures interacting and having the time of their lives together – it’s inspiring,” says Abdo of the ethnically diverse pool of volunteers.  “I find it hard to imagine that not having a positive, long-term effect on the children – and yes, on the volunteers, as well.”

“It is possible that the greatest benefits of this program are incalculable,” wrote the administration of Magnolia Elementary School in a letter of support for R2K.  “The bridges built between students and volunteers, the lift in morale which our school community feels from receiving this great support, and the seeds of knowledge and wonder planted in young minds…  It is impossible to convey in a few words the excitement and motivational force that this activity represents for our students.”

Gathering Support to Grow

Like any other non-profit organization, R2K faces a number of financial and operational challenges.  Financial support is obviously quite high on the organization’s wish list.  It costs a great deal of money to give away books, and provide support materials, and maintain a small West Los Angeles office, not to mention expanding expand the program to new schools.

“We buy Bargain Book Boxes from Scholastic, but we still have to pay for them ourselves,” said Abdo, the organization’s only paid employee.  “The office supplies, the banners for the schools…none of these are free, but they’re important to the program.  We need to continue to provide a high-quality service to our kids, and to our schools.”

Fortunately, R2K has its supporters and they have shown up in full force.  Key donors, including Bank of America, Whitecap Foundation, The Ahmanson Foundation, The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, Raytheon, and the Employees Charity Organization of Northrop Grumman, have provided much needed funding, with some giving more than $18,000.

Local businesses have also infused R2K with in-kind donations and services, including Starbucks, Wild Oats Market, and Peet’s Coffee and Tea.  El Cholo, one of Los Angeles’ most celebrated Mexican Restaurants, provides free appetizer trays for the volunteers who gather at their establishment after the reading events.

“Our entire support network has come together to feel almost like a family,” said Abdo.  “They seem to really love what we’re doing, even if they are unable to volunteer on a personal level.  I feel like they have bought into us emotionally.”

Volunteers, however, represent the trickiest hurdle for the organization.  On the positive side, the easy volunteer schedule (once a month for three hours) allows participants to show up when they can.  But for an organization that needs volunteers capable of making a consistent commitment, the pressure is on – especially when such volunteers are in short supply. 

In addition to needing a good showing from volunteers on reading days, R2K relies on volunteers for many of its other needs.  Volunteers, at all levels of commitment, are the lifeblood of the charity.

“Because we’re such a grassroots effort, much of our actual operation as an organization is supported by a dedicated group of volunteers,” explains Abdo of the highly involved R2K Taskforce – a group of volunteers who help oversee major functions of the charity.  “Taskforce members help drive key activities ranging from operations, fundraising, community outreach, and PR, to name a few.  Our Board of Directors is also largely comprised of people who started out as readers at the clubs but wanted to get more involved.”

For all the valuable contributions made by volunteers, the Taskforce and the Board of Directors, much of the management, growth and success of R2K comes down to one person – Mary Abdo, who recently celebrated her first anniversary as program director.  Much to her credit, that year has been a good one for both the charity, and the community at large.

Over the past year, the organization has achieved many significant milestones.  In addition to enjoying a profitable year as a 501(c)(3) organization, with all profits going directly into the organization, it has also surpassed it 20,000^th volunteer hour, and has given away its 20,000^th prize book away.  The 2004 Annual Fundraising Drive, which surpassed the previous year’s number of donors by 100, raised more than $14,000 ($2,000 more than last year).

As a summa cum laude graduate of University of Southern California (USC), and a Fulbright Fellowship Scholar, Abdo knows the power of reading.  And while she could easily make a far greater salary in the private sector, she has chosen to share the power of reading with kids who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity.

“We’re tackling literacy, language and even development issues head on,” said Abdo of her commitment to the reading cause.  “The National Commission of Reading says that reading aloud to children is the single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading.”

“Children who read more are going to have a better command of the language, and a better chance to succeed later on in life,” said Abdo.  “That’s why we’re here.  That’s why it’s important.  We come here every month, and we see these children develop a genuine love of reading.  They’re doing better in school.  They’re protecting their own future.  What could be more important than that?”

The End