Childrens Literacy Foundation

CLIF'S MISSION IS TO NURTURE A LOVE OF READING AND WRITING AMONG UNDER RESOURCED CHILDREN UP TO AGE 12 THROUGHOUT NEW HAMPSHIRE AND VERMONT. SINCE 1998 CLIF'S INSPIRING LITERACY PROGRAMS AND OUR 60+ PROFESSIONAL PRESENTERS (AUTHORS, ILLUSTRATORS, POETS, AND STORYTELLERS) HAVE SERVED MORE THAN 350,000 CHILDREN IN 430 COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE TWIN STATES, AND CLIF HAS DONATED MORE THAN 10 MILLION IN NEW BOOKS TO THOSE CHILDREN WHO NEED THEM THE MOST: CHILDREN IN SHELTERS AND LOW-INCOME HOUSING; REFUGEE AND FOSTER CHILDREN; CHILDREN IN RURAL COMMUNITIES WITH LIMITED RESOURCES; CHILDREN OF PRISON INMATES; AND MANY OTHERS.

CLIFS YEAR OF THE BOOK PROVIDES 25,000 WORTH OF LITERACY PROGRAMS, SUPPORT, AND NEW CHILDRENS BOOKS OVER ONE SCHOOL YEAR TO HELP BUILD A CULTURE OF LITERACY IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ACROSS NEW HAMPSHIRE AND VERMONT. THIS PROGRAM TARGETS SCHOOLS THAT HAVE A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS SCORING BELOW PROFICIENT IN LITERACY ASSESSMENTS, AND A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS RECEIVING FREE/REDUCED LUNCH. SINCE CLIFS YEAR OF THE BOOK WAS STARTED, CLIF HAS SPONSORED 90 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ACROSS THE TWIN STATES. CLIF'S RURAL LIBRARIES GRANT ENABLES RURAL PUBLIC LIBRARIES TO CREATE EXCITEMENT AROUND READING, INCREASE CIRCULATION, AND STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. CLIF WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE PUBLIC LIBRARY, THE LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND AREA DAYCARES AND PRESCHOOLS TO PROVIDE EXTENSIVE SUPPORT OVER THE COURSE OF ONE SCHOOL YEAR. THIS INCLUDES 2,000 IN NEW, HIGH-QUALITY CHILDRENS BOOKS FOR THE PUBLIC LIBRARY (SELECTED BY PUBLIC LIBRARIAN), 500 IN NEW BOOKS FOR THE SCHOOL LIBRARY (SELECTED BY SCHOOL LIBRARIAN), A TOTAL OF FOUR STORYTELLING PRESENTATIONS AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND CHILDCARE CENTERS, BRAND-NEW BOOKS FOR ALL PARTICIPATING CHILDREN FROM BIRTH THROUGH GRADE SIX, AND A 250 MINI GRANT OPTION TO SUPPORT A SPECIAL INITIATIVE IN YOUR LIBRARY. THE CHILDREN OF INMATES PROGRAM INSPIRES CHILDREN TO READ MORE OFTEN, CONNECTS CHILDREN AND INCARCERATED PARENTS THROUGH STORIES, AND GIVES PRISONERS EXTRA CONFIDENCE TO READ TO THEIR CHILDREN, EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT STRONG READERS THEMSELVES. CLIF HAS PROVIDED CHILDRENS LITERACY PROGRAMS AND PARENT SEMINARS TO 17 FACILITIES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND VERMONT. CLIF IS CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE FOLLOWING CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES THROUGH MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIPS: CHITTENDEN REGIONAL CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, A WOMENS PRISON IN SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT; MARBLE VALLEY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IN RUTLAND, VT; NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IN BERLIN, NH, NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE PRISON FOR MEN AND NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE PRISON FOR WOMEN IN CONCORD, NH. CLIF DONATES BOOKS TO BE USED IN PRISON STORYBOOK PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS GIVE INMATES THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEND A CHILDRENS BOOK AND A RECORDING OF THEMSELVES READING THE BOOK HOME TO THEIR CHILDREN. SUMMER READERS - CLIF ENCOURAGES CHILDREN TO READ MORE OFTEN DURING SUMMER VACATION WITH LIVELY STORYTELLING PRESENTATIONS AND NEW BOOKS CHILDREN CAN SELECT AND KEEP. AT - RISK CHILDREN - CLIF PROVIDES ON-SITE LIBRARIES, INSPIRING STORYTELLING EVENTS, AND NEW BOOKS FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE AT RISK OF GROWING UP WITH LOW LITERACY SKILLS. COMMUNITY BUILDING - CLIF HAS DESIGNED A GRANT OPPORTUNITY TO HELP BUILD BRIDGES AND STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN DIFFERENT GROUPS WITHIN COMMUNITIES.