Sometimes it seems as if the words are reverberating in my head – “unprecedented economic times”. Never have truer words been spoken. The effects of our country’s current economic state are being felt everywhere. As we listen to the media tell us stories of layoffs; the Pacific Northwest ‘bubble’ does not seem as strong. Boeing, Starbucks, even the mighty Microsoft are cutting their workforce in order to remain viable in these uncertain times.

Read 2 Me, as a small non-profit, is reeling from the current economic crisis. Last year our funders told us to grow. They said without a change in scope and size, there will be no more dollars awarded to our organization. So we grew. For the first time in many years, we expanded our program from ten Tacoma Public School sites, to sixteen. We now tutor 682 children, helping them reach critical benchmark reading levels by the time they enter the fourth grade. Every week we have 274 children waiting in the wings for their chance at one-on-one tutoring. We have inquiries from an average of 15 people a week asking to join our tutoring force, wanting to help create a literate world. At our current rate of tutor recruitment, we would have been serving every child by the close of the 2008-2009 school year.

Our scope broadened as well. We merged
with another local non-profit, and began
to spread the word about the importance
of reading to your children from birth.
This year the Tacoma School District
learned just how unprepared the
children of our community are for
full day kindergarten. Many of our
children lack the basic skills necessary
to be successful in school, and
Read 2 Me has spent the past six
months educating our staff, and the
community regarding the importance
of early childhood education.

The day before our annual luncheon,
Washington Mutual Bank collapsed. Although
it was still our most successful luncheon, the ramifications on our local economy began to show in our funding. Our grant writer worked tirelessly to explore new funding opportunities, but the list of ‘no’s’ and ‘not at this time’ began to grow, and grow, and grow. Never before have we struggled under such dire circumstances. Thinking outside of the box became critical to our survival. We strategized, and came up with new ideas, and new hopes. But the reality of our funding situation soon became clear: we must close our doors for the month of February, and before month’s end raise $100,000 in order to continue to serve the children of Pierce County.

And here we are today, January 30, looking at our sixteen sites and our almost 700 children, saddened by the thought that all the efforts of our amazing tutors may be lost during this next month. Terrified that our financial goal is too far from our grasp, and our doors may close forever. We are asking for your help. We know the power of this community, and we know that any donation is a chance to save our children from a life of illiteracy. Please help us save these children. Your tax deductible donation can bring this program back to the children of Pierce County, and change their lives for the better. Now is the time we must look towards the future, and do everything in our power to make sure the children of our community are prepared for whatever may come.

Please donate today by clicking on the "Donate Button" at the top of this page!

All donations are tax deductible.

Thank you,

Barbara James
CEO
Read 2 Me