Reach Out and Read is a research-proven early literacy and school readiness initiative with broad bipartisan support in Congress. From Fiscal Year 2000 through 2010, Reach Out and Read received funding through the Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill, administered through the U.S. Department of Education's Fund for the Improvement of Education (FIE).

In addition, the U.S. Department of Defense funded a pilot project to introduce the Reach Out and Read program at 20 American military bases. Additional private funding enabled Reach Out and Read to expand to a total of 44 U.S. military bases serving 90,000 children of military families, helping them to cope with the stresses and anxiety of separation and deployment.

Ten states also currently provide funding support to Reach Out and Read.

For every dollar of public funding, Reach Out and Read raises $2 in private funds, through strong support from individuals, corporations, and foundations. This public-private partnership was created by, and continues to be fueled by, the strong evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of Reach Out and Read. The partnership has enabled Reach Out and Read to expand from its original flagship Program in Boston to more than 4,700 healthcare locations nationwide, serving more than one-third of the children living in poverty in our country.

With the active involvement of our many supporters, Reach Out and Read will continue to seek public funds that, combined with our private support, will enable Reach Out and Read to make a difference in more and more lives.

"The Reach Out and Read model has proven successful in helping parents read to their kids and increasing the probability of healthy child development. Reach Out and Read works with doctors to encourage parents to read to their children and gives them the tools to get started. By building on the special relationship between parents and medical providers, Reach Out and Read helps children enter school prepared to learn and succeed."

"Research shows that reading aloud to children from an early age is vitally important to their development. We've seen the tremendous impact that Reach Out and Read has on kids in Iowa and across the country, who are in danger of falling behind even before they reach school age. Reach Out and Read is an investment in the future and helps ensure that more children have a greater chance at success."