Kids Need to Read is the honored recipient of a $15,000 grant award from Thunderbirds Charities. The funds will be used to provide thousands of books and other reading resources to disadvantaged children via the Page Coach.
MESA (June 14, 2024)–Kids Need to Read was the fortunate recipient of a generous $15,000 grant award from Thunderbirds Charities. This is the sixth year of funding Kids Need to Read has received from Thunderbirds Charities, which has provided over $208 million of charitable donations to Arizona-based organizations over the years. The funds will be used to provide thousands of 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 sometimes live without electricity, running water, or the unfamiliar luxury of books. Kids Need to Read has also partnered with Thunderbirds Charities on occasion to provide books to other grantee programs.
“ When people lament that children don’t read anymore, do they stop to consider whether those children have access to the books they need? Kids Need to Read understands that access is key. Over 40% of students in third grade are not on their reading level (According to https://www.arizonafuture.org/progress-meters/education/) We’re on a mission to bridge gaps in literacy access and support to make sure all of our children have what they need to be successful and life-long learners,” said Kids Need to Read Executive Director Jessica Payne. “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.
This grant is part of the Spring 2024 cycle. View a list of all Recent Grantees.