BOOKS FOR KEEPS — Each year, the RIF NOVA board raises funds to provide books for over 20,000 children at 30+ schools and sites in Northern Virginia. Those sites are listed below. Books are distributed to children at special book events throughout the year — with a theme or activities to encourage reading and make it fun. In all RIF NOVA programs, book choice is critical because all of us — children included — are significantly more likely to read and finish a book we choose ourselves. Read more here!
DONATED BOOKS — RIF NOVA collects and provides new and (very) gently used books from interested book donors from the NOVA community. The books are sorted and then regifted to children in the schools we serve so the children can have more than one book each year. We also provide books for nonprofit community members interested in providing books for the children they serve! Learn more about how you can give or receive books by clicking here!
AUTHORS IN OUR SCHOOLS — This program is funded by grants from author David Baldacci and his wife Michelle Baldacci. Further funding has been provided via the Arlington Community Foundation’s Wish List in 2024 and 2025 and grants from the Moser Family Fund in 2025 and 2026. Through the program, authors and illustrators visit schools and speak to students about reading, writing, and storytelling. Each participating child is gifted an autographed book or books to take home to keep. Click here for info about that!
STEAM It Up! — This program was created to provide local students with age-appropriate books and STEAM activities. Each child is able to build, create, engineer, and imagine through a hands-on activity provided by RIF NOVA and community funders. Each child can then select a STEAM-relevant book to take home to keep. Read more about it here!