Raising Readers 2020 Annual Report
April 21, 2021 | 20th Anniversary, Annual Report
We’re excited to share the special edition of the 2020 Raising Readers Annual Report. Can you believe it? For over 20 years, Raising Readers has reached more than 290,000 children with more than 3 million books through the participation of all midwives, hospitals, and healthcare providers serving Maine children. We’re so grateful to the many people who make this statewide health and literacy program possible.
This year alone, Raising Readers kicked off our special anniversary year by distributing Raising Readers’ 3 millionth book at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in January 2020. It was wonderful to have so many supporters in attendance as we highlighted our mission and its impact on Maine. Little did we know that the world was about to change as COVID-19 forced us to distance ourselves from everyone and everything we knew and loved in order to stay safe.
Amid the chaos, families with young children took comfort in the normalcy of routines, like snuggling up and reading books together. In order to support parents and caregivers electronically, Raising Readers offered literacy tips and fun family activities on our social media platforms and through our program blogs to engage little ones. We also created a Facebook Read-Aloud group featuring Maine authors, illustrators, and early literacy advocates reading their favorite Raising Readers books.
During this unprecedented time, Raising Readers remains a constant in the lives of healthcare providers, families, and children. We are grateful to the Libra Foundation for its 20 years of support, and we look forward to partnering with the many people who make Raising Readers possible for many years to come. Together, we can help Maine families look toward a brighter future.
Happy Reading and take good care!
