50 YEARS and beyond! please Join us!

Reading is Fundamental of Northern Virginia celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022...and we hope you will join in to help us continue our work for another 50 years!

Since 1972, 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 of books to children who need them the most, contributing to learning, literacy, and love of reading and books! Our goal is to motivate children to read and to share their newly chosen books with family and friends. 

What did we do to celebrate? (Click on each activity for more info)

A 50th Anniversary Golden Gala -- One for the Books
-- was held on October 20, 2022 with Keynote Speaker, author David Baldacci, Emcee NBC-4's Jummy Olabanji, Patrick Henry K-8 Principal (and former RIF book recipient) Dr. Ingrid Bynum, and a host of best-selling and debut authors.
Click here to see Gala author bios.
Click here for Gala sponsor information.
Click here for Gala photos.

50th Birthday Book Bashes
-- Books from our Book Donor Program found new homes with delighted children; click here to see the fun!

A 50th Birthday Galaxy of Stars
-- Recognizing some of the "stars" who have contributed to our success since our founding

Golden Quotes from our Community
-- Quotes from our community about the importance of our work

Top Children's Books of 1972 Countdown
-- What were the top-selling children's books 50 years ago?

How we do our work

RIF of NOVA board members and other volunteers work together to distribute free books to children who attend schools, day care centers, and Head Start programs in the City of Alexandria and in Arlington, Fairfax, and Prince William counties. We also give books to young children as they wait for their check-ups at a Fairfax County health center.
                                
Almost 20,000 children choose books during RIF of NOVA book distributions. In addition, we collect like-new books from the community for redistribution to area children.

Children chose multiple books contributed through our Donor Book program at an April 2022 50th Birthday Book Bash

Join in the fun!

Help us raise funds to do our work! Or volunteer to be part of an organization that cares about children and literacy! Learn more about volunteering by clicking here. Or email us at: [email protected] to find out ways you can help!

RIF founder Margaret McNamara is shown in the black and white cover page photo sharing books with deserving young children. She launched the national RIF organization in 1966 when she realized that many children had little access to books and few -- or even no -- books of their own. Reading is Fundamental of Northern Virginia began five years later, in 1972.

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