OUR HISTORY
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Reading Is Fundamental of Northern Virginia, Inc. -- RIF of NOVA -- can trace its beginnings back to 1972, when what is now known as the Junior League of Northern Virginia established a RIF program in the City of Alexandria. The League made the move to bring RIF to Northern Virginia with assistance from RIF's national headquarters in Washington, DC.
Just six years earlier, in 1966, Margaret McNamara founded the national RIF organization in Washington. While tutoring some youngsters in reading, Mrs. McNamara learned that they, and most of their classmates, had never owned any books. For Mrs. McNamara, a former teacher, the concept behind RIF's creation was simple — children would be more motivated to read if they could choose books that appealed to them and then take those books home to keep. Freedom of choice and pride of ownership were guiding principles of RIF back then and still are today. |
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With those principles in mind, the Junior League of Virginia's RIF programs served about 6,000 elementary school and preschool children in Alexandria. The League allocated $30,000 for its new RIF project, which was a three-year effort.
Forging Ahead
In 1975, RIF of NOVA was incorporated to carry on the RIF programs the League had launched. As planned, members from the community were chosen to serve on an all-volunteer Board of Directors that would run the new organization.
Board members included classroom and reading teachers, librarians, principals, parents, members of the business community, a school superintendent, a school board member, several school administrators, and the president of Marymount University. Each member brought a certain expertise to the board and, most importantly, a willingness to work.
One of the major tasks of this new, independent Board of Directors was to solicit contributions from the community to help pay for the books children received for free through the program. The board tapped a wide range of funding sources, such as parent-teacher associations, charitable foundations, community organizations, college and professional sororities, corporations, churches, and school boards. RIF of NOVA still receives money from similar sources.
Forging Ahead
In 1975, RIF of NOVA was incorporated to carry on the RIF programs the League had launched. As planned, members from the community were chosen to serve on an all-volunteer Board of Directors that would run the new organization.
Board members included classroom and reading teachers, librarians, principals, parents, members of the business community, a school superintendent, a school board member, several school administrators, and the president of Marymount University. Each member brought a certain expertise to the board and, most importantly, a willingness to work.
One of the major tasks of this new, independent Board of Directors was to solicit contributions from the community to help pay for the books children received for free through the program. The board tapped a wide range of funding sources, such as parent-teacher associations, charitable foundations, community organizations, college and professional sororities, corporations, churches, and school boards. RIF of NOVA still receives money from similar sources.
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A Foundation for the Future In 1976, an act of Congress made RIF projects across the nation eligible for federal funding. The influx of support allowed RIF of NOVA to expand its programs beyond the boundaries of Alexandria. RIF of NOVA now also operates in Arlington, Fairfax, and Prince William counties and continues to serve children in preschool up to age 18 who are of diverse economic, racial, ethnic, and academic backgrounds. In 2011, RIF of NOVA, along with many other educational organizations, lost its federal funding. Fundraising is more critical than ever before as we work to keep books in the hands of children who desperately need them. Just over 20,000 children participate in RIF of NOVA programs each year. Mrs. McNamara passed away in 1981, but her dream of motivating children to read has been nurtured by dedicated volunteers in every state. RIF of NOVA honors Mrs. McNamara's legacy by promoting reading and a love of books for Northern Virginia's children. |
