About Reach Out and Read Rhode Island

Reach Out and Read RI began in 1999 with four sites. Today the 40 sites of the Coalition include virtually all health centers and pediatric clinics in the state as well as a growing number of private practices. A generous matching book grant from Reading Is Fundamental has allowed the RORRI Coalition to provide all books free of charge to sites serving primarily low income families. The long term goal of ROR is books and literacy guidance to become part of the routine practice of pediatric primary care.

Coalition Announcements

WELCOME MELISSA!
Reach Out and Read RI welcomes our newest staff member, Site Coordinator Melissa Chiavaroli. Melissa is working hard to meet all of the ROR coordinators at our 40 health centers and is available to assist with book ordering, ROR reports and general day-to-day activities to help serve the ROR program in the field.

Save the Date for Max, Mayhem and Mischief at our third annual Breakfast For Books.

Let The Wild Rumpus Start on October 6, 2008 at the Providence Marriott, 7:30 am - 9:00 am. Proceeds from this event allows Reach Out and Read RI to continue our support of pediatric literacy programs in health centers across Rhode Island. We distribute nearly 60,000 books annually to more than 30,000 children. In doing so, pediatricians encourage parents to read aloud to their children at all well-child visits up to five years of age – critical years for acquiring early literacy skills.

You’ll enjoy a special presentation of a favorite childhood classic and we will honor our 2008 Prescribe A Book honoree: The Providence Community Health Centers, Inc. (Allen Berry, Capitol Hill, Central, Chafee, Olneyville.)

Reach Out and Read RI would like to thank our sponsors to date: Neighborhood Health Plan of RI, Sovereign Bank, The Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University and Citizens Bank

Thanks To Our Newest Funder! We are pleased to announce a new grant in the amount of $2,500 from the Build-A-Bear Workshop Bear Hugs Foundation. "The Build-A-Bear Workshop Bear Hugs Foundation is committed to making life more bearable for children, families and pets who are in need of a helping paw. With the sale of each Read Teddy - a special furry friend available in all Build-A-Bear Workshop stores - one dollar is donated to First Book and other literacy programs throughout the United States and Canada. Visit www.buildabear.com for more information."

In addition to individual supporters, recent funders of ROR/RI include The North Family Trust, Ronald McDonald House Charities of SNE, Ocean State Charities, The John Clarke Trust, The Providence Shelter, The Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island, The RGK Foundation, a RI Legislative Grant, Build-A-Bear Workshop Bear Hugs Foundation, The Elms Foundation and the ROR National Center. Our thanks for their support.

Donations of new and gently-used books are greatly appreciated. Used books make it possible for children of all ages to take home a book from every visit to the doctor. To make a donation phone 401-331-1967.

Advisory Board Members

BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Gale Aronson; Stephanie Dresner; Steve DeToy, RI Medical Society; Pamela C. High, MD, MS, FAAP Professor of Pediatrics (Clinical), Brown Medical School Director, Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Hasbro Children’s/Rhode Island Hospital; William Hollinshead,MD, MPH, Director, Division of Family Health, RI Department of Health; James Beadle, Accountant with Piccerelli Gilstein & Co; Linda Reilly, Director of Development, Thundermist Health Centers; Judanne Hamidzada, Providence Public Library; Peter Howland, MD, Blackstone Valley Community Health Center; Brian Lamoreaux, Attorney with Brown Rudnick Berlack & Israels; Stacy Paterno, Senior Partner, The Clarendon Group; William Strader, Ed.D.; Brenda Whittle, Senior Director of Member Development, Neighborhood Health Plan of RI; and Sarah Zacks, community volunteer.

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