Testimonials | rifsocal

RIFSoCal

Thank You All For Sharing

“Hello Team RIFSoCal,

As this was my first time visiting your facility last week, I wanted to reach out and let you know how impressed I am with your organization. The book quality (and quantity!) is truly impressive and the best I have seen. Please know that your contribution is greatly needed and will benefit hundreds of children!! Thank you and I will be in touch to further develop our partnership.”

“You have no idea how important our partnership is. Our students and clients are all on medical and this type of gift of reading is extraordinary! Thank you for your support!”

~ Anthony Plamondon, Development & Communications Manager, Violence Intervention Program

“Born and raised in Los Angeles, I grew up as a ‘RIF Kid.’ Growing up, there was not any extra money to go shopping for books, so from the first time my little sister Veronica and I visited the RIF Bookmobile, it ignited a life-long passion for reading and learning. We both credit RIF for beginning and impacting our journey to be the first generation of our family to become college graduates! I am honored to be a RIFSoCal Board member and have an opportunity to give back and help grow RIF for the next generation of kids.”

~ Andrew Meneses, RIFSoCal Board Member

That day where I chose my book and wrote my name inside was one step in many that have led me to be the reader, free thinker, and librarian I am today. I am so happy to be a “RIF Kid” and grateful that the program is still making a difference in children’s lives today. I’ll end with a quote from Children’s Author and literacy advocate Frank Serafini, “There is no such thing as a child who hates to read; there are only children who have not found the right book.”

Thank you, RIF, for finding me and other children the right books, it changed my life.

~ Carly Lamphere, Former RIFSoCal Board Member

I am so thankful for how the RIFSoCal organization supported my schools during my tenure with LAUSD. I believe I worked with the RIFSoCal program at 3 different schools over a 20-year period. I so enjoyed working with the Motivational Reading Program that even when I was assigned as principal, I continued picking up our books and coordinating the book distributions. We were able to put thousands of books in the homes of our students. What a great advantage it was to have the program in my schools. The RIFSoCal program was an important part of our academic success over the years.

~ Thaddus Jackson

Your wonderful program brings joy and wonder to the low-income kids we serve. They are always encouraged to read! And, we make them take a book. Over the years, we have developed readers! We are so proud and fortunate to receive your books. Books are one way to“escape” during COVID!

~ Dale Gorman, Executive Director
Kids’ Community Dental Clinic

I just wanted to say thank you

for donating the books. Our

kids loved getting reading

material with their backpacks.

Everyone thanks you and

RIFSoCal for your donation!

~ Catalina Salgado
Resident Services Coordinator
Cornucopia Services

Nothing compares to the feeling one gets seeing the joy in students’ faces as they choose their own book to take home. They can hardly contain their excitement and are so eager to share their new treasure with all of their classmates. I am so thankful RIFSoCal allowed me to bring their wonderful program to my new school site. I can’t imagine a year without this incredible support!

~ Dr. Jeff Lagozzino
Mountain View Head Start

Juliette Low has had the good fortune to have had the RIF program for the past several years, and it has been invaluable for our students, many of whom would have no books at home if it were not for this program.

~ Debra A. Von Sprecken, Ph.D.
Principal, Juliette Low School

Our school recently became a Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California school and I am writing to share with you the success I have seen with this wonderful program. Our school serves 840 Title I students and families, 70% of whom are English Language Learners. They have limited printed books in their homes. Unless students have books in their hands, it will be difficult to get reading fluency scores to move up or SRI scores to jump, and that is one reason
why this program is so helpful. I am fully supportive of this program and I can see students excited about getting their books and wanting to read at home and at school. I highly recommend this program to any principal that is struggling with motivating students to read at home and for families that have limited reading books.

~ Dr. Maria Chairez
Principal, Lampson Elementary

Thank you so much for your dedication

to bringing hope, imagination, and

dreams to the children of Southern

California through the RIFSoCal

program.

~ Jon Alan Webber
COACH For Kids & Their Families

Thanks to the RIFSoCal team for

the passion and relentless effort in

supplying all children with that LOVE

of books and reading!

~ Angie Stokes, M.S.Ed., M.Ed.
Director, Education Services,

John Tracy Center

I have hopes that Montebello Gardens Elementary is selected to participate in your OUTSTANDING program! The students were thrilled to choose a book (3 times last year) and be able to take it home!!!!

~ Norma J. Perez, Principal

My Daughter chose On the Road, a book about vehicles. She couldn't wait to share it with her dad during their evening reading time. It is an awesome thing to see children excited about reading.

~ An appreciative mother

Thank you for the RIF Books. Thank you for adopting our school. The free books will help us learn. They will help us love reading. I enjoyed reading my book about the tropical rainforest. I learned that we need to save the tropical rainforest. It was thoughtful of you to help our school. It made me adore reading.

~ Gregory, a RIF Kid

Quotes from Project Site Coordinators

“Students truly look forward to RIF events and they are learning to love reading more.”

“The interest in sharing books with each other and excitement the kids feel is contagious when they are picking out their books.”

“Students enjoy the celebration of reading. It helps promote a school-wide focus on literacy.”

“Students are grateful for the books and have been able to build their own home library.”

“The best thing about the program is students experiencing the joy of owning their own book. For most, this is the only time they have experienced this.”

“Students are excited about all the book options. Also, having parents volunteer their time to help has had a positive impact on the children.”

“Students are now taking books to recess, lunch, and holding book clubs on their own!”

Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, I loved the day the RIF volunteers came to my school. I am sure that my love affair with books is partly due to those free Nancy Drew mysteries and The Little Prince books I was able to get! Yes, like most children I went to the public library, but there was nothing like having my OWN books to read…and not have to give back. Books provided me with a way to experience far-away places and jobs I only saw on TV. I want to volunteer for RIF to share my personal experiences with others who want their own books for all the same reasons, for fun, for learning, for an imaginative escape into an adventure! As an educator for over 16 years, I know that children need access to books of their own choosing that will engage and encourage them to read, read, read! RIF continues to provide lots of great books that appeal to today’s diverse readers!

Carol Lane Pitts

Costa Mesa, CA

"Nothing compares to the feeling one gets seeing the joy in the student’s faces as they choose their own book to take home. They can hardly contain their excitement and are so eager to share their new treasure with all of their classmates. I am so thankful RIFSoCal allowed me to bring their wonderful program to my new school site. I can’t imagine a year without this incredible support!”

Dr. Jeff Lagozzino

Mountain View Head Start

Debra A. Von Sprecken, Ph.D.

Principal

Juliette Low School

Our school recently became a Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California school and I am writing to share with you the success I have seen with this wonderful program.

Our school serves 840 Title I students and families, 70% of whom are English Language Learners. We are located near the “block of Orange Outlets and serve students who have limited printed books in their homes. Unless students have books in their hands, it will be difficult to get reading fluency scores to move up or SRI scores to jump, and that is one reason why this program is so helpful.

I am fully supportive of this program and I can see students excited about getting their books and wanting to read at home and at school. I highly recommend this program to any principal that is struggling with motivating students to read at home and for families that have limited reading books.

Dr. Maria Chairez,

Principal

Lampson Elementary School

Thank you so much for your dedication in bringing hope, imagination and dreams to the children of Southern California through the RIFSoCal Program.

Jon Alan Webber

COACH For Kids & Their Families

Thanks to the RIFSoCal team for the passion and relentless effort in supplying all children with that LOVE of books and reading!

Angie Stokes, M.S.Ed., M.Ed.

Director, Education Services Department

John Tracy Clinic

I have hopes that Montebello Gardens Elementary is selected to participate in your OUTSTANDING program! The students were thrilled to choose a book (3 times last year) and be able to take it home!!!!

Norma J. Perez

Principal

"My Daughter chose On the Road, a book about vehicles. She couldn't wait to share it with her dad during their evening reading time. It is an awesome thing to see children excited about reading.”

Love, an appreciative mother

“Thank you for the RIF Books. Thank you for adopting our school. The free books will help us learn. They will help us love reading. I enjoyed reading my book about the tropical rainforest. I learned that we need to save the tropical rainforest. It was thoughtful of you to help our school. It made me adore reading.”

~Gregory

PROGRAM COORDINATOR QUOTES

“Children love to get their hands-on new books. They carry them around for days to

read during play times!"

"Ask the teachers. Ask the children. I don't believe anyone could imagine not having RIF."

"Ninety-percent of those we serve live at or below the poverty level and the excitement each child has at the thought of choosing something that is their 'own' is priceless."