Foster a Love of Reading

Every child begins with exciting dreams. Yet, significant educational and economic inequities often hinder these aspirations. Lack of access to books and not reading at grade level are major reasons why dreams slip away from children. In fact, over ½ of all San Diego County 3rd graders are not reading at grade level.

Why is the 3rd-grade marker so important? Children not reading at grade level by the end of 3rd grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school! This is largely because foundational reading comprehension is crucial for building more advanced educational concepts.

Our Read Across America Book Drive strives to break down these barriers by enhancing children’s access to age-appropriate, high-quality books to build literacy skills, ignite imaginations, and foster a love for reading.

In 2024, during our annual Read Across America Book Drive, we distributed thousands of books to students in communities experiencing significant educational inequities, helping to take the first step toward closing literacy gaps in our San Diego County region.

Thank you to our generous donors and sponsors who helped us surpass our goal of 3,000 books!