Annual Report 2017

2017

ANNUAL REPORT

THE CHILDREN’S READING FOUNDATION

As a national nonprofit, The Children’s Reading Foundation engages and empowers families, schools, and communities in children’s learning from birth through third grade to cultivate children’s early literacy and school readiness skills.

The foundation partners with schools, organizations, and child care providers in communities throughout the country and in Canada to deliver programs and message campaigns focused on reading and kindergarten readiness. These programs and messages provide the knowledge, tools, and skills necessary to ensure every child has the strongest literacy and learning base to thrive in school and in life.

Vision

To ensure every child learns to read early and well, thereby reaching his or her full potential in school and in life.

Mission

Core programs include READY! for Kindergarten®, READ Up: Stop the Summer Slide℠, and Team Read™. The foundation’s widely known read with a child message is:

Read Together 20 Minutes Every Day™ PICTURED ON THE COVER: Read With a Child Week events, hosted by our program partners in Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Chicago, and Washington, are featured on the front and back of the annual report.

Encourage and educate families about their important role in raising a reader and preparing their child for kindergarten.

Support schools in ensuring students read on grade level by the end of third grade.

Facilitate community involvement in helping young readers be successful.

In addition to monthly themes and activities, the inaugural Read With a Child Week was celebrated September 18 - 24, 2016.

That week of nationwide reading events planned and hosted by chapters, programs, grantees, and partners helped emphasize the indispensable importance of daily reading with children from birth through third grade.

We were thrilled that our program partners in several states worked with local governments and school districts to issue proclamations officially declaring Read With a Child Week in their towns. The foundation is extremely grateful for this widespread support. Read with a Child Week will continue every year, during the third week of September. Host reading events, book give-a-ways, or simply encourage families and caregivers in your community to recommit to reading with children for at least 20 minutes every day.

During the fiscal year, we extended our reach in several states. The Children’s Reading Foundation network welcomed 26 additional READY! for Kindergarten school readiness programs in seven states, and we now have program partners in 23 states and one in British Columbia.

Congratulations, to our 2017 Flagship Chapter Award recipient, South Sound Reading Foundation of Washington state. For 15 years, South Sound has built solid relationships with school districts, corporate partners, and other organizations within the counties it serves to increase children’s literacy.

from the U.S. Department of Education with strong results. More than 5,800 families attended READY! for Kindergarten workshops, with more than 3,500 families completing all three workshops. We also distributed nearly 500,000 new books through hundreds of partner sites in 12 states.

Our Literacy & Learning Partners program continues to grow, along with our hundreds of valued program partners. We are pleased to welcome Meadowbrook Press as our newest partner. Other Literacy & Learning Partners include CarsonDellosa, Cinco Puntos Press, Dowling Magnets, HarperCollins Children’s Books, Highlights, Lee & Low Books, Melissa & Doug, and Penguin Random House. These distinguished companies and organizations support our vision and mission.

The foundation was awarded a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) grant from the Washington STEM Foundation to develop a READY! for Math™ prototype, using our READY! for Kindergarten program play with a purpose approach, to help build early math-related skills for children ages 3 – 5. We anticipate finalizing the READY! for Math curriculum and testing in the upcoming year.

Through our READ Up: Stop the Summer Slide℠ program, we distributed 13,500 books in eight states thanks to generous donations to the Regina D. Weiss Literacy Legacy Fund, a designated fund to enhance children’s literacy by providing programming and books for children to cherish and keep.

The READY! for Kindergarten app is now available to download on mobile devices from the Apple App Store and on Google Play in both English and Spanish. You can also download it for free from our website.

The app advances school readiness through games and books for children ages 2 to 5 that families and kids enjoy together.

We completed our $3.8 million, two-year Innovative Approaches to Literacy grant

We are continually humbled by the remarkable work of our program partners in communities nationwide. Together, we are empowering parents and caregivers with knowledge and tools they need to nurture the foundation for children’s growth and development for all future learning.

Included in this year’s report is a 2018 calendar, which features reading and early learning messages as a reminder of the importance of raising a reader all throughout the year. Please enjoy!

Thank you for all that you do on behalf of children’s learning and literacy.

Sincerely,

Kristin Norell President, Board of Directors

2017 FISCAL YEAR IN REVIEW

L

ast year was filled with celebration.

The Children’s Reading Foundation commemorated its 20th anniversary throughout 2016, which included the first half of fiscal year 2017.

Many participated in our yearlong campaign to increase awareness of the foundation’s mission and tell the stories about the extraordinary impact we have collectively achieved during the past two decades.

Rick Donahoe CEO

The Children’s Reading Foundation | 2017 Annual Report

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MAKING A DIFFERENCE TOGETHER

20th Anniversary Celebration

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The Children’s Reading Foundation unveiled monthly reading and early learning themes and launched Read With a Child Week to commemorate its 20th anniversary.

The aim was to broaden awareness of the foundation’s mission and share the stories about the tremendous outcomes of its chapters, partners, and programs during the past 20 years of serving children, families, and communities.

Read With a Child Week will become an annual event, observed the third week of September.

On this page are a few samples of materials produced for the anniversary as well as events held, proclamations passed, and official remarks by U.S. Representative Dan Newhouse of Washington recorded in the Congressional Record in honor of Read With a Child Week.

23 STATES

and One British Columbia Program Partner Locations

Highlights & Results

5,877 FAMILIES SERVED Through the Innovative Approaches to Literacy Grant

The foundation’s work is only possible because of the commitment by families, schools, and organizations in neighborhoods across North America.

2017 FLAGSHIP CHAPTER

South Sound Reading Foundation (WA) Laurel Olfson (center) accepts the 2017 Flagship Chapter Award on behalf of South Sound Reading Foundation from national office representatives, board of directors member Nancy Kerr, and CEO Rick Donahoe.

1 BRAND REFRESH

of the Team Read Program

15,197 READY! FOR KINDERGARTEN KITS Provided to Families Through the Innovative Approaches to Literacy Grant

492,000+ BOOKS

Given to Children Since 2015

26 NEW

READY! for Kindergarten Programs

1 WASHINGTON STEM FOUNDATION GRANT

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to Develop a READY! for Math™ Prototype Using the READY! Play With a Purpose Approach

Collaborating with its reading foundation chapters and READY! for Kindergarten partners, the foundation delivers programs, materials, and information that inspire parents and caregivers to engage in children’s early learning.

This spirit of collaboration delivers incredible results and is essential to the foundation’s endeavors.

$35,329

Regina D. Weiss Literacy Legacy Fund Donations to Date

$3.8 MILLION

U.S. Department of Education Innovative Approaches to Literacy Two-Year Grant Successfully Completed

1 RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIAL

by Washington State University and The Chicago School of Professional Psychology Concluded Students of Families Exposed to READY! for Kindergarten had “Statistically Significant Higher Scores” (Based on DIBELS and WJLNI) Than Those Whose Families Were Not Exposed to the READY! Program.

Average DIBELS Letter Naming Scores Were 17.24 and 12.73 Respectively.

The Children’s Reading Foundation | 2017 Annual Report

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LITERACY & LEARNING PARTNERS 4 4

These renowned companies support The Children’s Reading Foundation’s vision and mission, helping strengthen the foundation’s efforts.

READY! for Kindergarten® Programs Chapters of The Children’s Reading Foundation National Headquarters States With a Presence

See a list of Program Partners on pages 6 – 7.

The Children’s Reading Foundation | 2017 Annual Report

COMMUNITIES SERVED

The Children’s Reading Foundation’s network of program partners continues to expand.

The relentless work by chapters and READY! for Kindergarten program sites in communities nationwide and in British Columbia help foster children’s early literacy and learning.

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AL ASKA

• Panhandle Alliance

MASSACHUSETTS

• Alaska Gateway

• Priest Lake Community

• Hilltown Community Health

• Kids’ Corps, Inc.

• United Way of North Idaho

• Home*City*Families

• United Way of South

MICHIGAN

School District

• The Children’s Reading

PROGRAM PARTNERS

Foundation of Haines

ARIZONA • Bridges Early Learning

Specialist Foundation

Central Idaho

ILLINOIS • Champaigne Urbana

Cradle 2 Career

Centers, Inc. (Gateway)

• Capital Area Community

Services, Inc. Head Start and Early Childhood Programs

• Onaway Elementary School

Resource Center

• Monadnock Regional

School District

• Piermont School District • Russell Elementary School

NEW MEXICO • The Children’s Reading

Foundation of Luna County

• University of Arizona

• Community Consolidated

MINNESOTA

OHIO

BRITISH COLUMBIA

• Community Consolidated

• Albert Lea Area Schools

• Licking Valley Local Schools

• Burnsville School District 191

• The Children’s Reading

Cooperative Ext.

• Gitanmaax Band Council

CALIFORNIA • Enterprise Elementary

School District

• Redding School District • Travis Unified School District

COLOR ADO • Grand Beginnings • Kiowa County School District

FLORIDA • Champions for Children • Port Salerno Elementary • The Learning Alliance

IDAHO • IAEYC - Idaho Association

for the Education of Young Children

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Education Foundation, Inc.

• Laconia School District/Family

School District 146 School District 59

• Lindop School District 92 • Prairie Children Preschool • The Children’s Reading

Foundation of Greater Chicago

• Eden Prairie Schools

Community Education

• How Kids Succeed • ISD 77 Community Education

and Recreation (Mankato)

• Schaumburg School District 54

• Nobles County

KENTUCKY

MONTANA

Early Learning Center

• Casey County School • Daviess County Board

of Education

• Felix E. Martin Foundation • The Children’s Reading

Foundation of Appalachia Kentucky

MARYL AND • The Children’s Reading

Foundation of Baltimore City

Integration Collaborative

• Anaconda School District • Plant a Seed...READ!

NEW HAMPSHIRE • Claremont School

Administrative Unit 6

• Concord School District • Governor Wentworth Regional

School District

• Keene School District

Foundation of Licking County

OREGON • Adelante Mujeres • Amity School District • Aumsville Elementary School • Bienestar • Clackamas County Early

Learning Hub

• Cow Creek Band of Umpqua

Tribe of Indians

• Community Action Child Care

Resource & Referral of Marion, Polk & Yamhill Counties

• Dayton School District • Douglas Education

Service District

• Forest Grove School District • Gaston School District

• Gervais Elementary School • Grants Pass School District 7 • Imbler School District • Marion & Polk Early

Learning Hub, Inc.

• McMinnville School District • Morrow County School District • Newberg School District • Oregon Child

Development Coalition

• Roseburg School District • Salem-Keizer Public Schools • Santiam Elementary School • Scio School District • Sheridan School District • Sherwood School District • Sutherlin School District 130 • West Medford Early

Learning Collaborative

• Willamina School District • Yamhill Carlton School District

TENNESSEE • Bradley County Schools • Cheatham County Schools • Clay County Schools • Cumberland County Schools • DeKalb County Schools • Fentress County Schools

• Hickman County Board

of Education

• Overton County Board

of Education

• Putnam County Schools • Robertson County Schools • Rutherford County Board

of Education

• The Children’s Reading

Foundation of Mid-Cumberland

• The Children’s Reading

Foundation of Southeast Tennessee

• The Children’s

Reading Foundation of the Tennessee Valley

• The Children’s Reading

Foundation of the Upper Cumberland

• Cheney School District • Chimacum School District • Clarkston School District • Educational Service

District 123

• Ellensburg School District • Enumclaw School District • Federal Way Public Schools • Franklin Pierce Schools • Granger School District 204 • Kent School District • Kent Youth & Family Services • Nespelem School District • Oak Harbor School District • Ocean Beach School District • Orondo School District

• Trousdale County Board

• Othello School District

• Warren County Schools

• Partners for Early Learning

of Education

• White County Schools • Williamson County Schools

VIRGINIA • The Children’s Reading

Foundation of Appalachia Virginia

WASHINGTON • Bethel Public Schools • Central Kitsap School District

• Parents Place • Peninsula School District • Puyallup School District • Quillayute Valley School

District Early Learning Coalition

• Quincy School District 144 • Reliable Enterprises

• South Kitsap School District/

Orchard Heights Elementary

• Sumner School District • Tahoma School District • Tenino School District • The Children’s Reading

Foundation of Mid-Columbia

• The Children’s Reading

Foundation of Okanogan County

• The Children’s Reading

Foundation of Quincy

• The Children’s Reading

Foundation of South Sound

• Union Gap School District • United Way of Thurston

County

• Wahluke School District • Walla Walla Public Schools • Wapato School District • Wenatchee School District • White River School District

WISCONSIN • School District of Nekoosa

WYOMING • Campbell County School

District 1

• Renton School District • Richland School District • Selah School District The Children’s Reading Foundation | 2017 Annual Report

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Left to Right: Lynn Fielding, Bailey F. Weiss, Linda J. Vinson, Nancy N. Kerr, Kristin Norell, and Janice Fox

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Rick Donahoe

CEO and Grant Project Director

Rhonda Shelly

Financial Administrator

Joanna Flaten

Grant Project Manager

Emily Fleming

Print Shop Production

Salem Snowdy

Richard Weldon Jr.

Karla Wilson

Kate Giardinelli

Director of Outreach & Development Program Manager of READ Up

Administrative Assistant READY! for Kindergarten

Andrena Patino

Shipping Production

Business Manager

Financial Analyst

TEAM MEMBERS

Chris Axelson

Fulfillment Services Manager

Erin Dickey

National Program Manager of READY! for Kindergarten

Annette Balderas

Warehouse Production

The Children’s Reading Foundation | 2017 Annual Report

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The Children’s Reading Foundation reported total income of nearly $2.4 million for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2017. READY! for Kindergarten non-grant kit sales increased 15 percent to 25,086.

FINANCIALS

Expenses decreased, primarily as the result of the foundation completing its efforts on a two-year, U.S. Department of Education Innovative Approaches to Literacy grant.

The Children’s Reading Foundation continues to keep adequate working capital to meet its business objectives.

The foundation had $1.1 million in cash and cash equivalents, while total liabilities were $192,000 as of June 30, 2017.

2017 Expenses TOTAL EXPENSES Miscellaneous

$-

Office & General

914,917

Building Occupancy

75,051

Outreach

194,494

Product Development

142,337

Training Expenses

1,449

Grant Expenses

242,696

Office & General 58%

Grant Expenses 16%

Product Development 9% Outreach 12% 10

Building Occupancy 5%

Income & Sales 30,000

Non-Grant

Grant

25,000

2013

15,240

3,209

20,000

2014

17,851

5,585

15,000

2015

17,692

5,996

2016

21,734

9,833

5,000

2017

25,086

-

0

KITS

READY! KIT SALES BY TYPE

10,000

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

$ 3,500,000

TOTAL INCOME 2013

2,128,000

2014

2,702,000

2015

3,077,000

2016

3,814,000

2017

2,368,000

3,000,000 2,500,000 2,000,000 1,500,000 1,000,000 500,000 0

The Children’s Reading Foundation | 2017 Annual Report

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Profit & Loss Statement

ORDINARY INCOME/EXPENSE Income

FY 2017

FY 2016

$ 45 268,274 3,143 1,954,892 82,918 58,390

$ 625 1,279,909 8,983 2,446,874 49,043 28,452

2,367,662

3,813,886

Other Cost of Goods Sold Product Shipped Cost of Shipping & Handling Warehouse Payroll Grant Cost of Goods Sold

603,848 69,130 98,017 -

665,351 123,343 109,741 390,910

Total Cost of Goods Sold

770,995

1,289,345

1,596,667

2,524,541

914,917 75,051 194,494 142,337 1,449 242,696

643 768,601 87,226 293,676 297,256 4,431 870,191

1,570,944

2,322,024

25,723

202,517

6,426 10,103

5,466 9,231

(3,677)

(3,765)

22,046

198,752

Sales Retail Grant Revenue Foundation Revenue READY! Revenue Child Care Revenue Other Income

FINANCIALS

Total Income Cost of Goods Sold

Gross Profit Expense

Miscellaneous Office & General Building Occupancy Outreach Product Development Training Expenses Grant Expenses

Total Expense Net Ordinary Income Other Income/ Expense

Other Income Other Expense

Net Other Income Net Income 12

Balance Sheet

ASSETS Current Assets

Property & Equipment

FY 2017

FY 2016

Cash & Cash Equivalents Accounts Receivable Inventory

$ 1,075,549 257,868 383,839

$ 979,924 134,425 507,044

Total Current Assets

1,717,256

1,621,393

126,082

40,213

1,843,338

1,661,606

FY 2017

FY 2016

74,370

9,749

17,994 23,448

22,478 -

115,812

-

76,102

-

191,914

32,227

1,642,649 8,775

1,615,582 13,797

1,651,424

1,629,379

1,843,338

1,661,606

Equipment Less: Accumulated Depreciation

Total Property & Equipment Total Assets LIABILITIES & EQUITY Current Liabilities

Accounts Payable & Accrued Expenses Accrued Payroll Liabilities Lease Liability

Total Current Liabilities

Noncurrent Lease Liability

Total Liabilities Equity

Unrestricted Assets Restricted Assets: Weis Literacy Legacy Fund

Total Equity Total Liabilities & Equity

355,415 (229,333)

231,050 (190,837)

The Children’s Reading Foundation | 2017 Annual Report

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515 W Entiat Ave, Kennewick, WA 99336 www.ReadingFoundation.org