About Reach Out and Read California

The mission of Reach Out and Read (ROR) in California is to put books in the hands and homes of young children by establishing and sustaining local ROR programs throughout the state. Started in 1999, the ROR model is now delivered in more than 430 hospitals, clinics and community health centers throughout the state; medical providers now distribute approximately 550,000 new books each year to more than 400,000 children (one-third of California's low-income children and families.

ROR programs are supported through a number of public and private partnerships, including organizations such as California Chapters of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the California Rural Health Association, the California State Library Association, a variety of First 5 County Commissions, the Severns Family Foundation, Books Are Fun, and various family literacy programs. These partnerships have helped to expand and sustain ROR programs throughout the state as well as foster linkages to other community literacy efforts.

Coalition Announcements

ROR in CA Meetings:

Monthly and quarterly teleconference calls are offered to all site staff and coordinators throughout California. A variety of topics such as book ordering and storage, program reporting, volunteer recruitement and retention, fundraising and public awareness are covered. Each call is led by an experienced ROR Program Coordinator and allows site coordinators throughout the state to share their best practices and expertise to assist each other in implementing and supporting ROR activities.

Donations:

Financial donations of any amount are greatly appreciated. Our greatest need is to underwrite the cost of new books distributed by the health care providers; we are currently building a statewide book fund. For as little as $40 a year, a child can benefit from ROR literacy guidance and the gift of new books at routine checkups from 6 months to 5 years. Please make your tax-deductible donation payable to: "Reach Out and Read in CA" and send to Debbie Mackay, Reach Out and Read, 10 Carolyn Way, Mission Hills, CA, 91345.

ROR in CA also appreciates the donation of both new and gently used books. Used books are made available for siblings and are used to stock waiting room bookshelves. Age-appropriate new books are given to children ages 6 months to 5 years at routine checkups. To donate books to a site near you, please contact Barbara Ducharme at 617-455-0630 or barbara.ducharme@reachoutandread.org for more information.

Volunteers:

Volunteers are a vital part of the ROR program and are needed in waiting areas to share books with children and their families while they wait for their appointments. Volunteers can also be instrumental in various fundraising project such as facilitating ROR community book fairs to raise money for new books. Volunteers receive clinic-specific ROR training; however, not all clinics or hospials can accommodate book readers in their wainting rooms. To find an opportunity with a ROR site near you, please contact Barbara Ducharme at 617-455-0630 or barbara.ducharme@reachoutandread.org.

Book Fairs:

Reach Out and Read in California collaborates with Books Are Fun, a Reader's Digest Company that specializes in coordinating and implementing book fairs for charitable causes. Any ROR site that hosts a ROR Community Book Fair as part of the collaboration with ROR in CA will receive 19% of all of the book sales. One percent of all sales goes to ROR in CA for administrative purposes and to purchase additional books for ROR programs. For more information, contact Barbara Ducharme at 617-455-0630 or barbara.ducharme@reachoutandread.org.

Reach Out and Read California Contacts

Alameda:
Veronica Sanchez
phone 510-875-2477
email Veronica.Sanchez@acgov.org

Kaiser Northern CA:
Debbie Mendes
phone 510-987-3907
email debbie.mendes@kp.org

Kaiser Southern CA:
Dena Spanos Hawkey
phone 626-405-5514
email Dena.spanos-hawkey@kp.org

Los Angeles:
Debbie Mackay
phone 818-838-7218
email Debbie.ROR@gmail.com

Orange:
Jamie McDonald
phone 949-752-2787
email jsmcdonald@sbcglobal.net

San Diego:
Tara Milbrand
phone 619-281-AAP3
email tmilbrand@aapca3.org

San Joaquin:
Brenda Condon & Susan Spracher
phone 209-937-8929
email RORSJ@ci.stockton.ca.us
Literacy4all@ci.stockton.ca.us

Solano:
Wyntress Smith
phone 707-784-1526
email wsmith@snap.lib.ca.us

All other Counties: TBD

Advisory Board Members

This Board is currently being formed.

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