Reach Out and Read of Illinois is a partnership with the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (ICAAP) and the Reach Out and Read National Center. Reach Out and Read of Illinois strives to increase literacy and a love for books among children by ensuring that all Illinois children have access to books at an early age. Our goals are achieved by recruiting new Reach Out and Read of Illinois sites, providing technical assistance, coordinating provider training on literacy and how to promote reading, facilitating communication among existing sites, and assisting with fundraising to support book distribution.

The Reach Out and Read of Illinois is excited to announce the launch of a redesigned website, http://www.reachoutandreadillinois.org. Please take a look at the interactive website and get more information about Reach Out and Read Illinois.

Reach Out and Read of Illinois thanks the Playground Theater and the KC Redheart comedy troupe for the Improv Comedy Marathon, held in Chicago on September 10th and 11th. Audience members were treated to 30 straight hours of comedy shows and games. Thank you to the Playground Theater and KC Redheart for helping the Reach Out and Read Programs of Illinois bring the joy and love of reading into so many children’s lives!

Reach Out and Read of Illinois welcomes Jessica Papp as the new Program Manager for Illinois. Prior to her new position, Jessica worked with another nonprofit, linking health benefits to underinsured and uninsured individuals and families in the Chicagoland area. We are excited to have her join our team, and are looking forward to another successful year!

How Can You Get Involved?

You can bring books and a love of reading into a child’s life today by making a monetary donation to Reach and Read Illinois.

 $2,500 and above (Gold Reader’s Circle)
 $1,000-$2,499 (Silver Reader’s Circle)
 $500-$999 (Author’s Circle)
 $300-$499 (Publisher’s Circle)
 $100-$299 (Illustrator’s Circle)

Please mail all monetary donations to Reach Out and Read of Illinois c/o Illinois Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics 1400 W. Hubbard St., Suite 100, Chicago, IL 60642.

Judith Neafsey, MD, ROR IL Chairperson, Chicago Department of Public Health
Mariana Glusman, MD, ROR IL Medical Director, Children’s Memorial Hospital
Ronna Jacobson, Ed.M., Evanston Northwestern Healthcare
Molly Tillay Johnson, MS, CNP, Rural Health, Inc.
Carol Lewke, Prepare Tomorrow's Parents
Niru Mahidhara, MD, Dreyer Medical Group
Elizabeth McChesney, MLIS, Chicago Public Library System
Peter Noronha, MD, University of Illinois at Chicago
A. Lola Okunade, MD, UIC Mile Square
Margaret Mary Policastro, PhD, Roosevelt University
Marilyn Price, Marilyn Price Puppets
Carrie Sharkey Asner, MD, University of Illinois-Chicago College of Medicine at Rockford
Marie Weissbourd, PhD, Northwestern Memorial Hospital