Reading IS Fundamental

As a book lover and illustrator, I am very moved by this plea for support. Please read and respond.

"If you subscribe to the online Publishers Weekly you may have noticed an
article about Congress not reinstating RIF (Reading Is FUNdamental) funding.
I just want to put in a plug for this wonderful program in hopes some of you
might feel inclined to act. I ran two RIF programs for seven years. RIF
provided quality free books for our low income and migrant students in the
Vineland School District 3 times each year. Students chose the books
themselves from among those we ordered. I purposely ordered books from many
of the wonderful authors in our region. I still have students come up to me
and tell me some of Terry Pierce's jokes from those books they selected.
All the books were brand new.

RIF is the oldest and most active literacy distribution program in the US.
Millions upon millions of free books have been given away since 1968. The
budget for next year has been completely ELIMINATED. That means our school
and hundreds of others will not be able to participate in the program.
Since I teach some of the poorest students in the state, the vast majority
of my students will never have the opportunity to select a book of their own
to keep without this program. I kid you not, the first year I started this
program I had kids cry tears of joy over getting a book to keep!

Please consider getting involved. Go to
www.rif.org/ get-involved/ advocate/ what/

This link will tell you how to contact your representative and provides a
form with talking points to email to your representative. This is truly a
program worth fighting for.

Thanks!

Rebecca Langston-George "