
Events
2024 Target Circle Community Giving!



RIFSoCal Celebrated 50 Years of
Sharing the Magic of Books and Literacy
RIFSoCal Celebrated 50 Years of Sharing the Magic of Books and Literacy with a Wine & Design fundraiser on Sunday, June 5, 2022, at the Calabasas home of Board President Alva Sachs and her husband Paul.
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Hugs and excitement permeated the afternoon as Board members and guests celebrated the afternoon in person after two years of zooming.
Amy Jurist, former RIF KID and Chef/Owner of Amy’s Culinary Adventures (https://www.amysculinaryadventures.com), voted #1 Caterer on the LA CityVoter Hotlists and Wedding Wire Couple’s Choice winner for the last 8 years, created an amazingly delicious array of goodies.
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Wine & Design’s (www.wineanddesign.com) local artist helped us create memories - and masterpieces - of the day.
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Gina Main (www.ginamainphotography.com) captured the afternoon’s excitement.
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Board member, Angie Flores, assembled the most diverse and exciting silent auction imaginable!
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With help and support from RIFSoCal Board members Jen Gresenz, Angie Flores, Teresa Verduzco Lopez, Andrew Meneses, Alva Sachs, Leat Regwan Phnesha Jefferson, and Mike Chavez, and Carol Henault, Executive Director, Oscar Cux, Program Services Manager, and Raymond Gonis, Book Program Manager, our 50th Anniversary Celebration was a smashing success.
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ONWARDS to another 50 years of inspiring Readers for Tomorrow!

Literacy, Books & Advocacy: Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California
Gladys Elizabeth Barbieri, Teacher & Author

I love books. The smell of books, picture books, fashion books, yoga books, and tear your heart out books. This school year, when planning for our year long social studies unit, Friendships & Schools, I immediately thought of literacy. Not knowing if our K/1 class would be able to grasp this big concept, we went ahead and tried.
As we wrap up our learnings, we are blown away by the discussions we have had with our little ones. We investigated the book system, the library system, the literacy system, the friendship system, the school system, and how they are interconnected. Our little ones said:
Books let you travel the world.
Books are my friends.
I can learn about animals because I care about them.
Without books there would be no understanding.
Books teach you about other cultures, and how we are both different and the same.
Books teach you about the Life Skills.
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In learning that books and literacy help support one's overall well-being, our K/1 class took a walking field trip to the local library. The children's librarian thoroughly shared the many systems found in the library. They were in awe when they saw the vast assortment of books. Then we wondered, "What about the communities where access to books and libraries is limited?"
We gathered inspiration from the picture book, Waiting for Biblioburro, by Monica Brown. The book is based on Luis Soriano, the Colombian teacher/librarian who brings books to children in the countryside of Colombia. We discussed that we, as community members have a responsibility to rebuild systems that are broken or unbalanced. In the spirit of Biblioburro, our students partnered with Reading is Fundamental of Southern California (RIFSoCal). Our little ones purchased one new book with the money earned doing various chores. They washed cars, swept the floors, helped with laundry, and even scrubbed handprints off the wall. They also went through their personal at home libraries and chose 3-4 books to donate. Our class then beautifully decorated book bags and used them to store the books. We will be donating the book bags, and the books, to RIFSoCal in an effort to support their mission of literacy and learning in school communities. A big bravo and love hug to our little, yet mighty advocates!
Yesterday, our Family Support Services Staff (FSS) coordinated a Libros Y Limonada / Books and Lemonade event for the children and families at the House. One of the FSS volunteers read a book to the group gathered. All of the books were donated by Reading is Fundamental of Southern California (RIFSoCal). One of our volunteers went to select the books at the RIFSoCal warehouse. Each of the children selected the perfect book and bookmark, while parents, volunteers and staff watched with pride.
Then everyone enjoyed lemonade, fruit and cookies. We appreciate RIFSoCal for this amazing donation. We appreciate the opportunity to share a love of reading and books with all of the children at the Pasadena Ronald McDonald House.
Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California (RIFSoCal), #caughtreading,#RMHCSC

To promote literacy and motivate children to read by providing new books to create home libraries for underserved children in Southern California.
"I want to read with my family so they
could be better readers like me."
Contact Information
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Carol Henault
Executive Director
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Oscar Cux
Program Service Manager
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Raymond Gonis
Warehouse Manager