books change lives!
As RIF of NOVA continues its second half century in the Northern Virginia area in 2024, we celebrate the FACT that reading matters! For over 50 years, we have been providing books to deserving children in our community -- the City of Alexandria and Arlington, Fairfax, and Prince William counties. During that time, we have given hundreds of thousands books to children who need them the most. And we hope to continue for 50 more...as long as there are children in our region who have few -- to even no -- books of their own. The impact on literacy rates has been particularly acute due to the pandemic, dropping to levels not seen for 30 years. While this news is discouraging, RIF of NOVA is committed to reversing this trend. And with your help, we can make a difference!
According to a U.S. Department of Education survey published on the Scholastic website, nearly two-thirds of low-income families they studied owned no books for their children. Does this matter? YES! The survey continues:
“The only behavior measure that correlates significantly with reading scores is the number of books in the home.”
According to a U.S. Department of Education survey published on the Scholastic website, nearly two-thirds of low-income families they studied owned no books for their children. Does this matter? YES! The survey continues:
“The only behavior measure that correlates significantly with reading scores is the number of books in the home.”
Building home libraries for our children can REALLY make a difference. Over the course of elementary school, each NOVA RIF child will accrue his or her own library of books -- a key factor in reading success, according to a 2023 Scholastic paper.
Can even ONE book change a life? The answer is a resounding YES!
Dr. Ingrid Bynum, Executive Principal, Region 3, Fairfax County Public Schools, knows the difference that ONE book can make. ONE book from a RIF bookmobile when she was in elementary school changed her life and put her on a path to academic and career success, as she describes in a video below. The other video captures some of RIF of NOVA's book activities over the years.
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At $4 per book, you can give a child in our Northern Virginia community not only a book but a better chance at reading and academic success! The children's faces below show the joy they feel when they have chosen a book for keeps!
Your generous donations to the cause of literacy for children in our region will be most gratefully appreciated. If you'd like to help, click here or on the Donate box below or on any page to donate online. Or please send a check to the address listed below.
Check out our latest newsletter, the RIF RAP, to learn more about RIF of NOVA and the children we serve! To subscribe to the RIF RAP, please sign up here.
RIF of NOVA is committed -- through its actions in providing books to children in the Northern Virginia region -- to building a sustainable, equitable, inclusive, and resilient community.
RIF of NOVA is committed -- through its actions in providing books to children in the Northern Virginia region -- to building a sustainable, equitable, inclusive, and resilient community.
"Reading is the key that opens doors to many good things in life. Reading shaped my dreams
and more reading helped me make my dreams come true." -- Ruth Bader Ginsburg
"Children should learn that reading is pleasure, not just something that teachers make you do in school."
-- Beverly Cleary