Who We Are
Need to Read (N2R) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that solely addresses illiteracy in underserved communities in the Central Florida area. We are a public/private partnership that provides educational resources for parents with infants through five years of age. We are making an investment in childhood development and growth by exposing children early in life to words, books, and digital reading materials. N2R provides age-appropriate book bundles to families in underserved communities and steers reading resources directly to households through the development of neighborhood reading corners.
The Challenge85%of American children are not being exposed to literature content at young ages. Children from infants to five years old in underserved communities are entering the education development arena at a reading and comprehension deficit.
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Long-term Social Implications of Low Literacy
Low Adult LiteracyLow Adult Literacy More than 43 million U.S. adults can’t read, write, or do basic math > than a 3rd grade level. Children of less-educated parents are 10x more likely to become low-skilled adults. |
Poor Health63% of low literate adults experience long-term physical deficiencies. 56% are more likely to have mental health issues. 68% adults are more likely to be obese. |
Poverty43% of adults with low literacy skills live in poverty. 47% of adult welfare recipients have not graduated from high school. 70% of adult welfare recipients have lower level literacy skills. |
Criminality20x more likely to be convicted of a crime. 70% of low literate adults can’t read at 4th grade level. 74% of 3rd graders who read poorly still struggle in 9th grade. |
Social DisconnectLow self-esteem Welfare dependency Higher levels of crime Feelings of shame Low income (if any) Generational ramifications |
UnemploymentApproximately 21% of low literate adults who become literate increase their wages. 8.1% increase in the probability of being employed. Low literacy costs the U.S. at least $225 billion p/y in non- productivity in the workforce, crime, and loss of tax revenue due to unemployment. |
Our Vision
We believe by exposing children early in life to words, books, and digital reading materials, we are consequently making an investment in human development and growth. N2R’s vision is to equip parents, siblings and guardians with the tools, education and support to eradicate low literacy for generations to come by…
- Equipping parents and guardians with training
- Implementing evaluations of program participants that put children on track for reading success
- Providing free, age-appropriate book bundles to families and day care centers
- Facilitating weekly story times for children in reading corners and nurseries
- Building reading corners in facilities located in underserved communities
- Raising funds to recreate our model to expand resources to households regionally
- Seeking partnership with donors, volunteers, and like-minded agents of influence in business, government, and the community
Our Grass Roots Approach
- Indigenous partner/locations and like-minded organizations
- Partner with the faith-based community, Head Start Programs, Childcare Centers and Community organizations
- We establish Turn-key ‘Reading Corners’ (200 titles), distribution sites (Yearly donations)
- Our Partners provide story time volunteers
- House-to-House visits to promote the event
- Robust marketing campaign for events and to increase awareness
- Visited and donated books to childcare centers