Partners
American Library Association
The oldest and largest library association in the world, the American Library Association (ALA) is home to 63,000 member librarians and organizations in 11 membership divisions. Two of those divisions, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) and the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) directly relate to young children and children’s books. AASL focuses on the needs of school librarians and the school library community, offering a vision and resources for 21st century learning. ALSC recognizes the best in children’s books and media through its annual book and media awards, including the esteemed Newbery and Caldecott Awards for children's literature, recommended reading lists, and literacy programs that promote family reading such as "Born to Read" and "Every Child Ready to Read."
Providing the books, tools and training materials for you to teach your child to read, the American Reading Company's products and programs are kid-tested and parent-approved and utilized in 2,100 schools across the country. As American Reading Company's programs and products help improve reading scores for schools and school districts. They also help to improve self-esteem and confidence of young aspiring readers and support teachers in using independent reading to drive both instruction and assessment.
For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America has changed and saved lives, enabling young people to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, some 4,000 Boys & Girls Clubs serve some 4 million children and teens through Club membership, after-school programs, and community outreach. Clubs are located in neighborhoods throughout the country and on U.S. military installations worldwide, providing a wide variety of youth development programs conducted by trained, professional staff. Key programs emphasize academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris survey of alumni, 57% said the Club "saved their lives." National headquarters are located in Atlanta.
Catholic Charities USA
Catholic Charities USA is the national office for local Catholic Charities agencies and affiliates working to reduce poverty in America in more than 3000 offices nationwide. Catholic Charities USA provides leadership and support to enhance the work of local agencies in their efforts to reduce poverty, support families, and empower communities. Catholic Charities USA's members provide help and create hope for more than 10 million people of all faiths each year.
Children’s Book Council
The Children’s Book Council (CBC) is the national nonprofit trade association representing publishers of children’s books. Every Child a Reader, CBC's foundation, is a leading advocate for the reading and literacy for America’s youth, and the force behind Children's Book Week, which has celebrated children’s books and reading since 1919. Every Child a Reader also administers the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature program and the Children's Choice Book Awards program.
A national, nonsectarian, nonpartisan, nonprofit, humanitarian organization that uniquely combines volunteerism and literacy to provide children in need with the tools to read, succeed and make a difference, HOA puts books into the hands of children in need while transforming school libraries in underserved communities into vital and vibrant centers of learning that become the heart of a school. Since 1997, the organization has provided children living in poverty with over two million library and take-home books, and engaged volunteers in more than one million hours of service to the community.
The premier technology partner of the Read it LOUD! Foundation, MARSYS provides the global platform, secure infrastructure and technical resources which enable the coalition to enrich the lives of as many children as possible. Founded in 1982, MARSYS is a provider of advanced IT business solutions to the Fortune 500, operating from over 50 points-of-presence in 22 countries worldwide
A voluntary association of educators and institutions, the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) is the largest private professional education organization in the world, representing 200,000 Catholic educators and academic leaders serving 7.6 million students in Catholic elementary and secondary schools, parish-based educational programs, seminaries and colleges and universities. The NCEA provides a wide range of activities and designed to aid Catholic educators; conducts trainings, sponsors meetings, and publishes on a variety of educational issues; and hosts one of the largest conventions for private school educators.
Nemours BrightStart! is a ground-breaking program that promotes developmentally appropriate practices to identify at-risk young learners and teach them important reading readiness skills. Nemours BrightStart! works to level the academic playing field for vulnerable young children, by developing tools for parents, educators, and health care professionals that support reading success. Nemours BrightStart! is part of Nemours, one of the nation’s leading pediatric health systems and the producer of the web’s most-visited website for kids health,www.KidsHealth.org.
Universal Companies is a nonprofit, community development and management corporation, founded by music great Kenny Gamble, founder and CEO of Philadelphia International Records, to create educational, cultural and entrepreneurial opportunities that stimulate the development of wealth within historically disenfranchised communities. Since 1993, Universal has been rebuilding African American communities’ one family at a time. Universal’s comprehensive, holistic approach to community revitalization, integrates real estate, economic development, education, social and supportive services and technology—a model called the Universal Plan. This model has become the new approach to community development in the 21st century.