Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California

Amazin’ Raymond

2010-07-19T18:30:06+00:00

Raymond Gonis, RIFSoCal’s long time volunteer extraordinaire, is our new Warehouse Manager!

Raymond’s warehouse and security background provide the exact skills we need as we grow into our expanded space and prepare to serve 100,000 children in 2010-2011 – that means ordering, unpacking, shelving and distributing over 300,000 new, free books of choice - an amazing challenge. For those of you who haven’t seen him in action, Raymond makes John Henry look lazy. Raymond is quite simply, the best!

We invite all of our friends and supporters to watch us continue to grow, as we launch our 200,000 Dreams Campaign to reach 200,000 children each year by 2016.

RIFSoCal is movin’ on up!

Run, Run, As Fast As You Can!

2010-07-18T20:28:24+00:00

Our Inspiration

Out of the oven!

Run, Gingerbread Man, Run!

BFFs, Fox and Gingerbread Man

The Cast

Macy’s Is Our Hero

2010-07-17T16:32:38+00:00

Please join RIF and Macy’s fundraising parnership, Book a Brighter Future™. Helping to open the minds and imaginations of children has never been easier—thanks to Macy’s. Hurry to your closest Macy’s…this promotion is only during the month of July!

Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California takes special pride in providing children the opportunity to choose books to create their own home libraries, inspiring them to read for fun and pleasure. We invite you to help make a difference in the lives and futures of more than 100,000 children living Greater Los Angeles, and over 4.4 million RIF children across our country. Book a Brighter Future™, a national partnership between Reading Is Fundamental and Macy’s to raise awareness and support for children’s literacy, continues to be the largest customer supported campaign in RIF’s 44 year history. Last year, Macy’s and RIF energized more than a million customers and employees to work together and raise a record $6.5 million to support RIF programs and initiatives. Thanks to Macy’s and Book a Brighter Future™, our local distribution center is being expanded to accommodate 23,000 more children this year than last. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Please Dream with us! We cannot realize our 200,000 Dreams Campaign without you!

Here We Grow Again

2010-07-16T19:38:35+00:00

Open Sesame!

Because we reached our 100,000 Dreams Campaign goal, we are expanding in order to serve over 100,000 children during the 2010-2011 school year!

Raymond looks back into the old space

Workers are creating a magical habitat for thousands of books which are just waiting to be chosen by RIFSoCal kids.

Going for it!

The renovations are coming along. Bursting through the wall with enthusiasm, John quickly works his magic. Our offices are now connected to the new space with a walk through doorway.

Carol in the new doorway

The books are all packed up, the bookcases almost ready, and it’s almost time to move. Keep checking back, it’s going to change quickly now!

Please Dream with us! We cannot realize our 200,000 Dreams Campaign without you!

We’re getting a Make-Over!

2010-07-15T16:29:09+00:00

The Transformation starts! Look at those gorgeous bookcases! We can’t wait to fill them with beautiful books.

Brand new Bookshelves are arranged before being bolted in place.

Bookshelves are all painted white with a RIF blue wall behind them.

Susan Sarandon Joins Book a Brighter Future

2010-07-06T18:53:54+00:00

Carol H. Rasco, RIF’s President and CEO; Riffington, RIF’s mascot; and Susan Sarandon.

To launch the fifth year of the Book A Brighter Future campaign, 20 children from St. Aloysius Education Clinic (a SHARE program!) listened to Susan Sarandon read Wild About Books at Books of Wonder, New York’s largest independent bookstore devoted solely to children’s literature. Children participated in a multicultural book distribution facilitated by Susan, ate cupcakes, played animal bingo, and left with a backpack stuffed with books and other goodies. A special thank you to SHARE coordinator Beth Pettit for helping to organize this (Academy) award-winning event!

Please Dream with us! We cannot realize our 200,000 Dreams Campaign without you!

Inside View of a Book

2009-08-14T20:02:19+00:00

Book Reviews by RIFSoCal Kids allow us to see value in books from a child’s point of view. The following are a few of thousands of thank you notes containing reviews of the books chosen by our kids. They are poignant, funny, and honest as only a child can be.

Contact Information

2010-07-27T18:35:24+00:00

Address:
Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California
7250 Bandini Blvd., Suite 208
Los Angeles, CA 90040

Phone: 323-890-0876
FAX: 323-890-0875

Clifford the BIg Red Dog

2010-07-20T17:49:36+00:00

Mascots, Costumes, and Fun!

2010-07-19T18:30:54+00:00

To the children’s delight, sometimes Winnie the Pooh or Clifford the Big Red Dog come to visit the school during Motivational Events. RIFSoCal children have written and sent pictures to show us that Ronald McDonald, the Library Fairy, and the Cat in the Hat have come to their schools, too. Let us know if you have seen Dangerman or any other superheroes, book heroes, or just plain funny costumes. Motivational Events are fun for everyone!!