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REGIONAL BOARD - MIAMI MEMBERSHIP DESCRIPTION

Read to a Child regional boards are groups of dynamic local leaders who are dedicated to corporate philanthropy and specifically to the mission of Read to a Child. Board members advise and support local management to help expand the reach of the organization. In particular, board members work to raise Read to a Child’s profile by engaging other corporate and community leaders and/or major donors to support the work of the organization. The regional board is comprised of between eight and fifteen members and includes a chair, vice chair, and secretary. Members serve two-year terms, renewable by mutual reflection and agreement.

Responsibilities of regional board members are as follows:

• Make a meaningful annual personal contribution to support local programming. Our hope is that all regional board members become members of the Seuss Circle, Read to a Child’s Leadership Giving Program Level of $1,000 or more annually.
• Raise significant funds to support Read to a Child programming each year. "Get" goals range from $1,000 to $5,000+ and are defined by each Region
• Act as an advocate and community representative for Read to a Child.
• Attend regional board meetings to advise Read to a Child staff on strategic plans, budgeting, marketing, and other organizational business.
• Make recommendations on prospective regional (or national) board members.
• Participate as a Lunchtime Reading Program reading mentor if at all possible or visit a program site with local Read to a Child staff at least once per year.
• Encourage employer to support the program by providing volunteers, annual contributions or grants or by supporting fundraising events.
• Allow Read to a Child to use his or her name, title and company affiliation on the Read to a Child website, letterhead and publicity materials.

What is Read to a Child?

Read to a Child is a national literacy and mentoring non-profit that fosters a love of reading, improves literacy skills and supports socio-emotional well-being in students from under-resourced communities. Read to a Child partners with thousands of community and corporate volunteer mentors from more than 150 local businesses and organizations who read one-on-one to elementary students at under-resourced schools in the greater metropolitan areas of Boston, Detroit, Hartford, Los Angeles and Miami.

Read Aloud Mentoring Program

In Read to a Child’s Read Aloud Mentoring Program, an adult is partnered one-on-one with a student attending one of our partner elementary schools for a rewarding, weekly read aloud experience. The relationship typically lasts for the entire school year and often extends for multiple years through the end of fourth grade. Reading pairs are supported by an on-site Program Coordinator, employed by Read to a Child, and are provided access to a wide selection of appropriate books to read. Most recently, Read to a Child has added a virtual component to the program, enabling mentors and children to connect online via Zoom.

The simple act of reading aloud to a child once a week, over time, can have a profound impact on the child’s future. The Read Aloud Mentoring Program also offers the adult a convenient, joyful, and meaningful way to give back.

Why Read to a Child?

Read to a Child’s model is based on the premise that a love of reading is a driver of opportunity for children throughout their lifetime. A caring connection with a reading mentor helps to facilitate the attention, engagement, and confidence that all children need to thrive.

Reading aloud is known to be the single most powerful way to promote strong reading skills in children. According to the landmark 1985 report Becoming a Nation of Readers, "Reading aloud is the single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading."

According to a study by Berk L.E. of Pearson Education, Inc. (2009), "When adults read to children, discussing story content, asking open-ended questions about story events, explaining the meaning of words, and pointing out features of print, they promote increased language development, comprehension of story content, knowledge of story structure, and a better understanding of language - all of which lead to literacy success."

Who Do We Serve?

Read to a Child serves grade K-4 students at Title 1 elementary schools. Read to Child’s current school partners consist of, on average, 79% low income as well as 47% Latino/a, 36% Black, and 3% AAPI students.

Diversity Statement

Read to a Child is committed to providing resources to children most impacted by systemic inequalities. We have faith in our students’ ability to thrive and choose to focus on their strengths rather than the barriers they face. We are motivated to continuously act on our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion among reading mentors, staff, and board members so as to best reflect and support the students we serve.