Why Literacy
For decades now, the crisis of a growing epidemic of illiteracy has been the focus of our largest Foundations and Think-Tanks. They understand that illiteracy negatively impacts our communities, our cities, our nation and our world – not to mention the pain to the individual. We know that children who are not reading at grade level in the 3rd Grade are 4 times more likely to drop-out of high school than children who are reading at level – and we also know that over their lifetime, a high school dropouts costs our society between $300,000 and $1,700,000. Conversely, we know that children (regardless of class, race or gender) who are reading at grade level in the 3rd Grade graduate high school at a rate of 89% or better – and therefore have the potential to be fully functioning citizens – and who add to the vibrancy and success of their communities.