Opening Doors by Opening Books

ANNUAL REPORT 2019 Reading WITH, not to. MAKING AN Parents/caregivers consistently report improvements in the way they read and how much IMPACT they read with their children.

78% 78% 76% of families not reading of families use 3 or of partners share that 3 or more times a more dialogic reading their families have week read more after strategies after improved how they RAR-MA. RAR-MA. share books after RAR-MA.

33,944 8,486 98

Books Rotated Children Served Active Partners

FROM A PARENT "Esteban will not leave the playgroup without getting his Red Book Bag. We read books almost any time of day and at bed time.

Abigail is very attentive and dramatic. Every time we read she makes the animal noises or imitates the emotions in the book.

I really love this program. I have three children and they have all gone through the program."

- Maria, parent, Chelsea DEAR READERS Thank you from the leadership!

Dear Readers,

Thank you for entrusting us to close the literacy opportunity gap in Massachusetts. With you, we are making a difference--both our program partners and Dear Readers, parents continue to report increased reading frequency and quality. Thank you. It is with your consistent generosity that we

equip parents and caregivers to be their children’s first 2019 was a special year at Raising A Reader MA. We teachers, empowered to be active participants in their invested in our team and evaluation systems to create a children’s education, impacting success in school and strong foundation for scale and deeper community beyond. impact. We streamlined our parent and partner surveys to improve the quality of the data we collect and added The range in support from a variety of contributors has three new positions to help effectively engage with laid a stable foundation for us, ultimately allowing us to families. We are now better positioned to provide more deepen our impact with our program partners. We owe educational opportunities for the current families we our success in 2019 to the 62 corporations and serve and add new program partners to access even businesses, 39 foundations and nonprofits, and 377 more families in the coming year. families and individuals that contributed to our funding. I am proud of what we have accomplished and I am even more excited for the future. Our ability to deepen impact It is my honor to share with you that we were selected is directly related to the strong relationships we have as a Funded Partner of Boston Children’s Hospital developed with you. I continue to be inspired by your Collaboration for Community Health in the Zero to Five commitment to Raising A Reader MA and by our Child Health and Development category. This three- constituents’ commitment to their children’s academic year partnership with $442,000 of conditional funding future. allows for significant growth in Greater Boston, as we have hired more staff, accessed more children through With your engaged support, we will continue our additional partners, augmented our evaluation important work to end the literacy opportunity gap so capabilities, and heightened our profile as a partner and that all children enter kindergarten ready to learn.Thank leader in the early literacy landscape. you. It all starts with the simple act of reading! We look forward to continuing our partnership in the With gratitude, service of thousands of children across the state.

With gratitude, Christine Ward Executive Director Gregg Dooling Board Chair BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chair - Gregg Dooling Melissa Alexander Managing Director, CFO, Americas, Amundi Pioneer Director of IT, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Vice Chair - Francine Rosenzweig Justin Hayward Former Attorney Partner, Cross Coastal Advisors Treasurer - Heather Dickinson Jonathan Nesbit Managing Director, Deloitte & Touche, LLC Managing Director, State Street Global Exchange Secretary - Daryl Andrews Jonathan Slawsby Partner, Andrews DeValerio, LLP Owner & COO, Madison Food Corp. OUR PARTNERS Convenience in a trusted setting. We access parents/caregivers and their children through trusted community partners where families are already involved.

Number of Partners by Type 40 25 Number of Partners by Region

20 30

15 20 10

10 5

0 0 r g s ls s * te n ie m o r n n n y y e n iti c te o e to to to lle lle it e s n s h id s k s a a ll C i e y c v o c o V V te V g S S ro B ro B r a re e A p P B r ck e S a m u te a e C o d o re a n se r a e im o ld H u g c r rr i i c y d G P h o la il e C F P h M t- C n ly re i a m *Fee for service programs not in our P a F direct service communities OUR DIFFERENTIATOR More than a book donation program. We teach families dialogic reading strategies that effectively engage their children in books, as well as provide age-appropriate and culturally relevant books in a rotating library. OUR FAMILIES We are proud of the diversity of families we serve. Among our constituents, 34 different languages are spoken.

17% of parents/caregivers Our mission is to close the literacy have less than a high school opportunity gap among children birth education level. to age six in high-need communities 45% of parents/caregivers report by helping families develop and that English was not the primary practice shared home reading habits. household language. 41% of parents/caregivers report household income of less than $25,000.* Parent/Caregiver Education Levels by % *Parents that did not report income were not included in the total. No formal schooling 4.6% 1-6 years 4.4% Bachelor's or above 24.7% At-home reading frequency increased for families across all parent/caregiver 7-12 years 20.1% education levels. For parents/caregivers with less than a high school degree, weekly reading frequency increased by 2.3 times that of parents with a In high school 0.6% high school degree or above. 2 year degree 16%

All data captured through parent/caregiver surveys. High school graduate 30.2%

FROM THE RESEARCHERS "Building the capabilities of adult caregivers can help strengthen the environment of relationships essential to children’s lifelong learning, health, and behavior...Policies and programs that address the needs of adult caregivers and help them to engage in serve and return interactions will in turn help support the healthy development of children."

- Harvard University, Center on the Developing Child OUR COMMUNITIES The state of early literacy.

2018 MCAS RESULTS 3rd Graders Partially or Not Meeting Expectations in RAR-MA Communities Statewide 48% For minority students, this Boston 67% number increases. Brockton 78% Results by Subgroup Chelsea 64% EL or Former EL 67% Everett 59% Economically 66% Holyoke 81% Disadvantaged Lawrence 68% Black 67% Lowell 57% Hispanic/Latino 67% Lynn 61% White 51% Malden 59% Revere 52% Springfield 67%

1 in 3 children start kindergarten unprepared to learn. THE EARLIER, Reading books with a child beginning in early infancy can boost vocabulary and reading skills four years later, before the start of elementary school. (American Academy of THE BETTER Pediatrics, 2017)

Academic Early Literacy 3rd Grade Success Skills Reading & & Kindergarten Comprehension Graduation Readiness Rates OUR FINANCIALS Events DONORS 22% Over $100K Boston Children's Collaboration for Community Health

$20K - 50K Program Adelaide Breed Bayrd Foundation 5.5% Amelia Peabody Foundation In-Kind/Other Amundi Pioneer Asset Management 2.5% Fordham Street Foundation Funder Collaborative for Reading Success Foundation Harbus Foundation 70% Hestia Fund Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation Kelly and John Carroll Revenue Lawrence J. and Anne Rubenstein Charitable $986,513 Foundation Development Liberty Mutual Foundation 15% Perpetual Trust for Charitable Giving, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee Reeder Foundation

Susan and John Simon Admin $10K - 19.9K 11% A.C. Ratshesky Foundation Couch Family Foundation Deloitte Ellen Roy Herzfelder Erica Gervais and Ted Pappendick Foundation M Program Jessica and Josh Lutzker 74% Lisa and Jonathan Slawsby Nan Haar Legacy Foundation Nathaniel and Elizabeth Stevens Foundation TD Charitable Foundation Expenses Vertex Foundation $890,149 $5K - 9.9K Baerlein & Partners Proud partner of Beker Foundation Bill Barke Broadway Restaurant Group Cedar Tree Foundation DCU for Kids Don Hawley Eastern Bank FGS Printing Francine Rosenzweig Gillian Meek and Jon Nesbit The Hamilton Company Charitable Foundation HarborOne Foundation Heather Dickinson John Hancock Kate Enroth and Dana Schmaltz Kerry Nelson and Alan Milinazzo Bob and Kate Delhome Lewis Family Foundation (Grand Circle Foundation) Brenda J. Bancel Lovett-Woodsum Foundation Bruce Palmer MassMutual Financial Group Catherine Barba Richard K. and Nancy L. Donahue Charitable Foundation Catherine McCarthy Memorial Trust Robin and Gregg Dooling CBIZ, Inc. Teresa and Don Epperson Christos Perakis Thomas Anthony Pappas Charitable Foundation Demos Kouvaris UniFirst Corporation Dianne and Bill Ledingham E*TRADE Securities $2.5K - 4.9K Eve Waterfall and Claire Walton Amanda and Marcus Hall EY Bruce Hauben Giana and Joshua Hebert Camille and Dave Carlstrom Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Charles H. Hall Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee Heather Murray and Rob Pawliuk CHT Foundation Holly LeCraw and Peter Howe Daryl and Christopher Andrews Jeanne Blasberg Dellbrook | JKS Jeffrey Johnston Holden Hodgson Jody Steel Lisa Thompson Kathryn and Ray Murphy Lydia and Justin Hayward Margaret and Michael McDonald Margaret and John Malicki Mari-Ann and William Hogan Michelle and Doug Arbeely Marybeth and Mark Dooling Partners HealthCare Massachusetts Business Roundtable People's United Bank Melissa Steffy People's United Community Foundation of Eastern Mintz Levin Massachusetts New England Council, Inc. Progress Partners Nick MacShane Rakel Meir and Brian Bell Patricia Gross Freeman Rodman for Kids Quincy Mutual Fire Insurance Stephanie and Brian Spector Raising A Reader National United Way of Greater Plymouth County Sandee and Matt Tisdale Webster Bank Save the Harbor Save the Bay $1K - 2.4K St. Mark's Episcopal Church Allyce Najimy State Street Amy Lipton and Joseph DeSantis Stefan Spazek Andrew Boyd Sue and Dan Farrell Annie and Ilan Ganot Susan A. and Donald P. Babson Foundation Aubert J. Fay Charitable Fund Susan Klink Bank of America Tom Palmer $500-999 $250-499 Amy O'Leary ANONYMOUS Andrea Vallace Ayse Asatekin Anne Kuuskvere Bill Hall Ben Bradlee, Jr. Brookline Booksmith Bill Walker Christopher Saulnier Carol Hudson Connie Coburn Carol McKean David Castellano Charlie Gibson Dianna and Chris Morgan Christina MacLeod George Grant Dan Ross Heather Shanahan Deborah Kolb Jack Gilbert Donna DiFillippo Jean Scarrow Eric Kuser Jen and John Malone Faiza and Shadman Riaz Jen Bowers Greg Hamilton John Galivan Hotel Commonwealth John Gilbert James Egan Karima Aust James Masur Kathy Sherbrooke Joan and Eugene Hill Linda Gibbs and Tom McMahon Joe Baerlein Liz Zigmont Kelly Newman Louie Crosier Kevin McGovern Margaret Begley Laura Palmer Mary Jo Johnson Lauren and John Atsalis Maura O'Leary Lynne and Gary Smith Michelle Torgerson Mark Goodman Micki Rowaan Melissa Alexander Patrick Grecco Michael Dakers Peter Poulin Mike Brodigan Rachel and Keith Gubbay Nina Hughes Susan and Julian Houston Olga St. Clair Theresa Brockelman Patty Boozang Trish Schiapelli Peter Brown Zac Bissonnette Randi Paul Levine Robert Vail Under $250 Adam Haywood Roddy Young Adam Lopez Rose and Rodney Jean-Louis Adam Scott Samir Bhattacharyya Alex Nadas Scott Hartz Alex Pardy Serene and Obey Arthur Liu Alexander Gruber Shaun Real Alison Parker Staci Gilbert Allen Arseneau Stephanie Zelman and Richard Rosensweig Allison and Kevin Stone Susan and Matt Botein Altrusa Inernational Foundation of Plymouth County Temple Shalom of Newton Amanda Gibson Thomas Ahern Amazon Andrea Seagrave David Yarin In-Kind Support Andrew Foley Dean Marr America's Test Kitchen Andrew Sarno Debra Wekstein Amundi Pioneer Angela Han Deena Kanopkin Booty By Brabants Anne Davenport Devin Nash Boston Harbor Cruises Anthony Tivnan Diana Coldren Boston Symphony Orchestra Asmani Adhav Doreen DiFillippo BRIX Betsy Blount Douglas Greiwe Jr. Christie and Jay Cashman Bill Leedy Drake Hicks Cinquencento Roman Trattoria Bob Loblaw Dylan Pelz Deloitte Brad Greenberg Edward Donovan DePrisco Diamond Jewelers Bradley Gilbert Eleanor Sharpe and Garrett Read Elite Island Resorts Brendan Rice Elena and Jay Caplan Erin Gates Design Brett Girard Elise Goodhue Fairmont Le Château Frontenac Brian Cingel Elizabeth Ambrose FGS Printing Brian DiFillippo Elizabeth Eades Flour Bakery & Cafe Brian Maloy Elizabeth Leinbach Foundation to Be Named Later Brian Trojan Elizabeth Martin G20 Spa and Salon Bridget Malicki Ellie O'Neill Gordon's Fine Wine & Liquor Buckingham, Browne Ellis Schaefer Grill 23 & Nichols School Emily Leinbach Hope Family Wines Burns & McDonnell Emily Niehaus Huntington Theatre Company Caitlin Littlefield Emma Malicki Kiernan Conroy Klosek, Photographer Caitlin Vorlicek Eric Vaden Mandarin Oriental, Boston Caroline Greiwe Ethan Underhill Marquis Design Caroline Keane Evan Kearns Massachusetts Bay Lines Caroline Ruttner Federico Muchnik New England Patriots Caroline Veith Frank Walter Polly Ross Ribatt Casey Hingten Gabriel Rosen Revere Hotel Catherine Keisling Garrett Read Row 34 Chloe Lee Grace Wilson Salon Capri Chris Legg GreenLight Fund Sam Adams Christina Ferraiolo Greeshma Shetty The Smoke Shop BBQ Christopher Scharff Greg Boccio Tito's Claire Giampetroni Greg Comeau Uniek Living Claire Monagan Hank Phillippi Ryan Westport Rivers Vineyard & Winery Clare Durkin Hayley White XV Beacon Hotel Clune Walsh Henry and Mary Pat Mulholland Courtney Marsolais Hilary Gallagher Craig Buermann Hillary Cook Craig Richard Howie Japlon Curt Brownlee Ian Thomsen Cydney Biessel Isabel Schaefer Dan Licata James Ellis Dan Segal James Lathrop Dana Dakers Jamie Leake Daniel Alpers Jamie Tober David Martel Jane Dakers David Reservitz Janice Justice Maeve Mulholland Robert Stavins Jason Xanthakis Magdiel Lorenzo Ronal Lareau Javier Torres Magellan Jets Ryan Coburn Jenna Chodos Manusha Chereddy Samantha Surface Jess DiFillippo Margaret Walsh Samuel Thompson Jessica Southam Margie Fulton Sandy Allen Jill Quinby Maria and Ted Gibbs Sarah Curry Joanne Cushing Mariel White Sarah Loftin Joe Heiberger Marilyn Depetro Scott Ford Joe Maduri Marion and David Pollock Scott Richmond Joe Zanini Mark Bradley Sean Kirkpatrick John Amato Maryann and Thomas Gibbs Shannon MacDonald John Carey Matt Brewster Sheila Joyce John Gearan Matthew Keemon Snowden Henry John Lehrman Matthew Rice Stefan Bossbaly Jose Rivera Meghan Donofrio Stefan Majewski Josephine Digiustini Meredith Twigg Stefania Mallett Julie and Douglas Greiwe Michael DeNitto Steve Gullans Justin Atwood Michael Draine Steven Doyle Justin Greiwe Michael Ponsor Steven Richard Justin Merola Michael Robbins Steven Singer Karen McElroy Mike Schoenegge Suzanne Igarteburu Katherine Tully Monica Lareau Sydney Brownlee Kathryn Addonnizio Morgan Cuthbertson Tayson Ng Kathryn Friedman Natalie Gill Terri O'Brien Kelli Richardson Natalie Salpeter Tesla Quinn Kelly Foley New Balance The Body Kelly McCarthy Nicholas Dixon Timothy Koeth Kelly O'Shea Nicole D'achino Tina Robinson Kevin Frechette Noelle Champoux-Olson Todd Weeber Kevin Martin Olivia Japlon Tom Lane Kirsten Leger Olivia Watson Tracey Tebrow Kristen DiFillippo Pam Perrino Trevor Hunt Kristina DeMichele Parker Greiwe Trish Larsen Kristine and Jim Blue Patricia Baldassaro Tucker Cushing Kyle Vinton Patricia Schiapelli Tyler Brennan Kyra Levi Patricia Tew Vicky Cox Latoya Lashley Patti Dalrymple Virginia and Ronald Malicki Lauren Campson Paula and Joe DeMarkey VJ Vesnaver Lauren McGraw Paula Warchol Will Samuels Lauren Nigro Perry McCarthy William Rice Leah Gymziak Peter Holt Wyndsor DePetro Linn Epstein Rachel Buckley Lisa Buchanan Rachel Senker Loomis Chapman Leedy Rajkumar Pammal Thank Loretta Gangi RJ Lemieux Lorin Rees Rob Cocuzzo Mack Jones Robert Rice You!

DINNER WITH AN AUTHOR Our signature fundraising gala on May 8, 2019 was one of our most successful to date, raising over $250,000 in unrestricted funding.

When I first learned about the role at RAR-MA, I was surprised to discover that research showed that the single most significant factor influencing a child's lifelong achievement is being regularly read to by their adult caregivers before starting kindergarten...This resonated with me because I was a part of this demographic - not to the fault of anyone, but because my family, my community - did not have access to this information.

This profound discovery is what motivates me to work with the passion that I do everyday!

- Maria Mombeluer, Senior Program Manager

The Emerging Leaders is an associate board of young professionals, whose participants regularly take EMERGING action to raise awareness and funds for our core LEADERS mission and develop into future leaders. Co-chair (CY 2018): Michael Dakers - Panera Co-chair (CY 2018): Josh Schaer - Freshii Boston Co-chair (CY 2019): Emily Leinbach - The Bowdoin Group Co-chair (CY 2019): Chapman Leedy - Federal Reserve Boston Lauren Atsalis - Bass Doherty Manusha Chereddy - HarbourVest Sarah Curry - Jones Lange Lasalle Jack Gilbert - Cambridge Associates Elise Goodhue - Northwestern Mutual Bill Hall - Gordon's Fine Wine & Liquor Serene Liu - IBM Labs Kevin O'Hanlon - Marcus & Millichamp Ian White - Workbar Tesla Quinn - Bain

Raising A Reader MA is a 501c3 organization with Opening Doors EIN #80-0297898. by Opening Books Headquartered in the historic Old Corner Bookstore on the Freedom Trail 3 School Street, 3rd Floor Boston, MA 02108

(617) 292-BOOK (2665) | www.raisingareaderma.org