Kids Need to Read was the fortunate recipient of a generous $25,000 grant award from Thunderbirds Charities. This is the third year of funding Kids Need to Read has received from Thunderbirds Charities, which has provided over $147 million of charitable donations to Arizona-based organizations over the years. The funds will be used to provide books and other reading resources to children living in low socioeconomic and rural areas of Arizona via The Page Coach, Kids Need to Read’s mobile conveyor of literary treasure. The Page Coach was selected for funding because of its ability to reach areas traditionally overlooked by many literacy programs, including remote areas where children live without electricity and running water. Kids Need to Read has also worked with Thunderbirds Charities to deliver books to the Blessings in a Backpack program at Nevitt Elementary School in Tempe, Arizona via The Page Coach.
“Ensuring that children have access to books is vital to breaking the cycle of generational illiteracy that exists in many impoverished areas of the state,” said Kids Need to Read Executive Director Denise Gary. “The Page Coach makes it possible for our organization to deliver books to children living in areas where the need is greatest. We believe that books can provide children with the ability to dream of a life beyond their current challenges and to follow those dreams.”
Together, Kids Need to Read and Thunderbirds Charities work to help children discover the joy of reading and the power of a literate mind.
ABOUT KIDS NEED TO READ:
Kids Need to Read works to create a culture of reading for children by providing inspiring books to underfunded schools, libraries, and literacy programs across the United States, especially those serving disadvantaged children. For more information about Kids Need to Read, visit kidsneedtoread.org.
ABOUT THE THUNDERBIRDS:
The Thunderbirds were founded in 1937 with the mission of promoting the Valley of the Sun through sports. The Thunderbirds consist of 55 “active” members and more than 280 “life” members. The Thunderbirds raised a record $13.2 million for charity from proceeds from the 2019 WM Phoenix Open and have eclipsed $147 million in charitable giving since its inception in 1932. For more information about The Thunderbirds visit www.thunderbirdscharities.org.