The Reach Out and Read Gateway Coalition was founded in Fall 2005 as part of the expansion efforts of the Reach Out and Read National Center. Prior to this, beginning in 1999, the federally funded Grace Hill Neighborhood Health Centers hosted 3 ROR sites. Thirty additional primary care sites throughout the Greater St. Louis and Metro East Illinois region have been recruited into the Coalition. This Coalition’s region encompasses St. Louis City and County, East St. Louis, Illinois and surrounding communities, and sites in rural Missouri. The ROR sites are located in private practices, federally-funded neighborhood health centers, two University-affiliated primary care residency training clinics, a High Risk Newborn Follow-up Clinic, and a large air force base. In addition to the University affiliated programs, many of the ROR practices serve as community-based residency training sites.

In 2009 20% of Missouri's children live at or below the federal poverty level. This number translates to 248,000 of MO's children living in poverty. The highest concentration of children living in poverty resides in the City of St. Louis 32%(79,360)the areas where the largest number of ROR practices are located. In 2007 33% of MO 4th Graders scored below the basic reading level, Nationally, it was 34%.

The ROR Gateway Coalition is unique as a result of its close partnership with SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center and Foundation, a highly respected tertiary care children’s hospital affiliated with St. Louis University School of Medicine. Patients and their families from a wide, surrounding geographic region of Missouri and Illinois seek primary and specialized pediatric care at the Medical Center. This close affiliation allows the hospital and medical school to serve as the local ROR Coordinator for the metropolitan area.

In 2009 in MO (61 ROR Sites, 30 in metro area)43,000 children participated and 111,000 new books were distributed to high risk infants and children and early literacy anticipatory guidance was provided to their parents and caretakers.

The Coalition Leader, Elizabeth Sugarbaker, M.D., is a Developmental Pediatrician at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center and an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at St. Louis University School of Medicine. Her background as an Educator lends a focused emphasis to the Coalition activities.

Borders Stores are Partnering with SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center and the Reach Out and Read Program in November and December, 2010, as their Book Drive Partner. The Brentwood Store being the lead store Promoting this Partnership. Please visit a Borders store in the St. Louis area during this time to purchase a developmentally and culturally appropriate book to benefit our local Reach Out and Read Sites!

The Gateway Coalition is pleased to announce the endorsement of the Missouri Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. We look forward to working with MO-AAP for the benefit of Missouri's children!

Gateway Coalition Presentations given at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center:
“Using Books as Assessment Tools: The Typically Developing Child”, given by Monica Ultmann, M.D.
"Pediatric Health Care Providers Promoting Literacy in Primary Care", given by Monica Ultmann, M.D.

Current Reach Out and Read National Impact:
* Reach Out and Read Programs are located in more than 4,535 hospitals and health centers in all 50 states, District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico & U.S. Virgin Islands; International Programs modeled on Reach Out and Read have been started in Italy, Israel, the Philippines, England, Bangladesh and Canada.
* Reach Out and Read serves mores than 3.9 million children and families annually.
* More than 6.2 million new, developmentally-appropriate books are given to children annually.
* More than 26,500 medical providers currently participate in Reach Out and Read.
* Community volunteers dedicate more than 350,000 hours of service to Reach Out and Read Annually.
* Reach Out and Read now serves more than 90,000 children and more than 180,000 new developmentally appropriate books are given to military families annually on 35 U.S. military bases.

***Read Out and Read prepares America's youngest children to succeed in school by partnering with doctors to prescribe books and encourage families to read together.***

Fran Wulfers
Interim Executive Vice President for Development
SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center & Foundation

Marian Ammons
Director, Corporate and Foundation Giving
Director of Reach Out and Read
SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center

Elizabeth Sugarbaker, M.D.
Danis Pediatrics, Reach Out and Read Medical Director
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
St. Louis University School of Medicine

Jimmie Carter
Reach Out and Read Coalition Coordinator
SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center