LINC Letter Fall 2022 by LINCNYC

LINC LETTER Fall 2022

Raising Funds to Raise Little Readers at Yankee Stadium! On Friday, September 30, close to 80 people joined Literacy Inc. at Yankee Stadium to raise little readers in The Bronx during a multi-faceted fundraising event.

SBH’s Marketing Director, Robert Vazquez, and LINC’s Content & Delivery Manager, Evelyn Cabreja, read Robert’s book Next Stop, Yankee Stadium

Together We Ignited a Spark! LINC and SBH Health System Are Raising Healthy Readers in The Bronx It’s official. LINC’s newest literacy zone sits alongside a pediatric waiting area stocked with books and is open for readers! On Friday, August 26, 2022, Literacy Inc. (LINC) and SBH Health System joined forces to create early literacy spaces and programs inside the state-of-the-art SBH Health & Wellness Center with one goal, to Raise Healthy Readers in The Bronx! This collaboration was the brainchild of LINC’s Family Engagement, Specialist Majida Gouriech (formerly a LINC VIP). Four years ago, Majida dreamed of merging literacy and health to reach members of this Bronx community. What resulted is a multi-faceted partnership which includes read while you wait programs, literacy kits for newborns, and books to build home libraries. “We have received some amazing feedback from the parents, doctors, nurses, and the kids since we’ve started with placing books in the reading nook and the exam rooms. The doctors and nurses say having the books in the exam rooms has a calming effect on the kids as they use the books as props to relieve any fears the young children have about coming to the doctor.” — Janine Adjo, MD - Chair, Department of Pediatrics, SBH Health System

Guests enjoyed meeting former player Cecil Fielder and the excitement was palpable every time Aaron Judge stepped up to the plate for a chance to hit his 62nd home run. In addition to popcorn and peanuts, unique mementos were available to support children’s literacy. The Bronx graffiti artist and Tats Cru member BG183 custom designed baseballs for purchase, and LINC’s partner at SBH Health System, Robert Vazquez signed copies of his children’s book Next Stop, Yankee Stadium. The enthusiasm heightened as grand slam prizes were raffled off: a bat signed by Anthony Rizzo, a ball designed by BG183, and a ball signed by Giancarlo Stanton. We gathered proudly and cheered as LINC’s PSA ran on the scoreboard that evening, a reminder for all baseball fans to invest in literacy and spread the joy of reading. In total, LINC raised over $31K for little readers and would like to thank our donors, staff and the NY Yankees for making literacy a priority in The Bronx.

LINC’s Growing Movement Our Programs Build Confidence Working with Literacy Inc.’s Very Involved Parents (VIPs) comes with lots of rewards. One that always stands out is the tremendous growth of confidence we see in our community members. Even though her 7 year old daughter has aged out of LINC programs, LINC VIP Alexa Salvatierra made sure to attend the NYC Reads Initiative Back to School Storywalk on August 24. She brought her daughter, Eliana, and a friend to join the festivities at the Lower Highland Playground and continues to spread the word about LINC programs. Alexa was introduced to LINC during a Mommy and Me program at the Arlington Library in East New York 5 years ago. Alexa no longer lives in that neigh-

borhood, but she fondly recalls the day when she first learned about LINC. Family Engagement Specialist Christie Rosario had an enormous impact on her daughter. That was the day her daughter started to come out of her shell. Reading became fun and Eliana continued to participate in LINC programs on a regular basis. She developed a passion for reading and is now a confident speaker among her peers. Alexa, like many other LINC VIPs, is a cheerleader for LINC. Read below and feel the reward. Christie! She’s the best. And I mean, my daughter loves to read. She loves the arts and crafts they used to do. So she was always interested in the program. And she has a very nice connection and relationship with Christie. We keep in touch with Christie through LINC and out of LINC. I think LINC is a great organization. I try to support and get the word out as much as I can. And I was able to bring a friend today! — VIP Alexa Salvatierra

Joele Frank is Helping Raise Healthy Readers in The Bronx These volunteers dedicated their time to assembling Literacy Kits for distribution at SBH Health & Wellness Center in The Bronx. Over 250 Literacy Kits were prepared for new mothers who give birth at SBH, each filled with practical items: a newborn onesie, book, totebag, and magnet that reminds families of the importance of supporting literacy from birth.

On Wednesday, September 14, Literacy Inc. (LINC) hosted an inspiring employee engagement event with our new friends at Joele Frank, an international public relations and investor relations firm with offices in New York and San Francisco. 2

LINC LETTER - FALL 2022

Joele Frank generously covered the cost for all kit materials and shipping charges as part of their activation, and all of these kits were sent directly to the Director of Maternal Child Health at SBH for her team to distribute. Thank you to all of our volunteers at Joele Frank for helping us raise healthy readers in The Bronx!

LINC’s Collective Impact The NYC Reads Initiative Takes Families on a Storywalk This August, the NYC Reads Initiative coordinated back to school storywalks in all three of its communities (East New York, South Jamaica, and East Harlem) and one thing was certain. These families are not alone!

NYC Reads Pledge to join the Reads community.

At the center of each neighborhood’s Back to School celebration was a read-aloud of You Are Not Alone by authors Kaitlin McGaw and Tommy Shepherd, a story that reassures For some families, these back to kids that they belong, their unique school celebrations are an annuidentities are to be loved, and they al tradition. For others, they are have a responsibility to look out for a brand new experience and a each other. This story invites readers wonderful opportunity to support of all kinds to unite, much like the children’s literacy in their neighbor- Reads Pledge brings together famhoods. Books and school supplies ilies and businesses in each of the were distributed by a number of NYC Reads communities. the NYC Reads Initiative partners. There were read-alouds, activities Over 100 pledges were made during and crafts, even a mobile library, these Back to School events. Thank and adults were invited to take the you to everyone who took the

pledge and committed to surrounding every child in New York City with the tools and skills needed to be successful in school by 5th grade.

Read 5 or more days per week

Non-LINC Families

Reaching for the Stars & Seeing Results

Increasing the frequency 59% that parents/caregivers City’s First Readers recently received the results from read to their child(ren). 79% our family behavior assessments conducted by the Prior to attending CFR Read 5 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 evaluation firm, Apter & O’Connor. We were thrilled programs, 59% of the or more days per to see substantial gains throughout the report and families read 3+ days/week. After participating in week Non-LINC Families would like to call attention to the positive statistical CFR programs, that number jumped to 79%. significance in two of our priority areas: This year we are reaching for the stars and taking Building home libraries by our impact a step farther. In addition to creating 45% increasing the number of public awareness campaigns, resources and proage-appropriate books in grams that ensure children are more prepared for 71% the home. We found that their first day of school, we are also working to 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 only 45% of families who increase enrollment in both PreK and 3K. had not attended CFR programming had 10 or more books in the home. That number jumped to 71% after engaging with CFR.

LINC LETTER - FALL 2022

LINC’s Supporters -- --

Literacy Inc. Launches a Monthly Giving Program! Welcome LINC Stor y tellers

We call them the LINC Storytellers because this dedicated group of donors will play a vital role in providing access to books for families in LINC communities across NYC. With monthly donations the LINC team has the ability to hand select books by diverse authors, ensuring equitable representation in the stories that our families read. LINC Storytellers will see their gift at work over and over again in LINC programs, home libraries, literacy zones and distribution events, making a big impact in the long term. Become a LINC Storyteller today and help us put books directly into the hands of children and families in all five boroughs. Spread the joy and love of reading.

For more information, contact Kathleen Dorman, Donor Relations Manager, at kdorman@lincnyc.org or by dialing 212-620-5462 x 144.

Literacy Inc. P.O. Box 822 Katonah, NY 10536

*temporary mailing address When a child reads, a community succeeds!