REGIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS - SOUTH FLORIDA MEMBERSHIP DESCRIPTION

Read to a Child regional boards are groups of dynamic local leaders who are dedicated to corporate philanthropy and specifically to the mission of Read to a Child. Board members advise and support local management to help expand the reach of the organization. In particular, board members work to raise Read to a Child’s profile by engaging other corporate and community leaders and/or major donors to support the work of the organization. The regional board is comprised of between eight and fifteen members and includes a chair, vice chair, and secretary. Members serve two-year terms, renewable by mutual reflection and agreement.

Responsibilities of regional board members are as follows:

What is Read to a Child?

Read to a Child, www.readtoachild.org, is a national literacy and mentoring non-profit that inspires caring adults to read aloud regularly to underprivileged children to create better opportunities for the child’s future. Research shows that reading aloud to children is the single most important activity for eventual success in reading, a key factor for success in school, work, and life. When an adult reads aloud to a child, both parties have a joyful, rewarding experience that instills a love of reading, improves literacy skills, and enhances a child’s self-confidence. Read to a Child’s Lunchtime Reading Program utilizes more than 1,700 volunteer mentors from over 125 socially-minded organizations who read one-on-one to more than 1,300 at-risk elementary school students in Greater Boston, Connecticut, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Miami.

Why Read to a Child?

The landmark 2013 Annie E. Casey Foundation publication, Early Warning Confirmed: A Research Update on Third-Grade Reading, reported that 80% of 4th graders from low-income families nationwide are not proficient in reading and that more than ¼ of these struggling readers do not graduate from high school!

Lunchtime Reading Program

In Read to a Child’s Lunchtime Reading Program, an adult is partnered one-on-one with an at-risk elementary school student for a rewarding read aloud experience during the child’s lunch break. The relationship typically lasts for the entire school year and often extends for multiple years through the end of fourth grade. The simple act of reading aloud to a child once a week, over time, can have a profound impact on the child’s future. The Lunchtime Reading Program also offers the adult a convenient, joyful, and meaningful way to give back.

REQUIREMENTS