Marcy can be found blogging at Stretching a Buck, where she helps you save money on the things that you need so that you have more money to get the things that you want!

Books have been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. As a toddler I memorized the books that my family read to me, and as an adolescent I was often found with my head in a book. Yes, I was one of those kids who would rather read than play outside in the summer time! Reading opened up my (small town) world, taught me about people and places that were unfamiliar to me, and provided me with hours of entertainment. Being a young and avid reader also helped me academically in a variety of ways. I was able to read and comprehend quickly which helped with test taking. My writing skills also benefitted from the vocabulary that I was exposed to, not to mention the story telling skills I acquired!

The benefits of reading are numerous. Reading can teach important lessons, foster creativity/imagination, develop language skills and improve attention span, to name a few. And for kids who are exposed to reading as an infant, the benefits are even greater.

I was first introduced to Reading is Fundamental (RIF) as an elementary school student. As a child, “RIF day” was a fun day where I got to go to my school cafeteria and pick out a free book to take home and enjoy. As an adult, I now understand that RIF is the nation’s largest children’s literacy organization, providing 4.6 million kids with new (and free!) books and literacy resources each year.

According to their website, RIF’s mission is to:

::Ensure that every child believes in the value of books and the importance of reading.

::Assist children and their families with the fundamental resources children need to become motivated to read.

::Lead in the creation and development of national, regional and local collaborations building strong community-based children’s and family literacy programs.

Some kids do not have access to books. Others are never exposed to them. When I think of how much my two-year-old daughter has already benefitted from reading, it breaks my heart to know that not all kids are given the opportunity to discover the impact that reading can have on their lives. Not every child has a real life role model to guide and encourage them. I would like to think that books can open up those kids’ minds to the possibility of life outside of the one they are currently living in. They might even be able to find a role model or inspiration between the covers of a book!

RIF’s services include: Books for Ownership, Family of Readers, Shared Beginnings, and Running Start. Ninety cents out of every dollar donated to RIF goes directly to RIF programs. To learn more, you can check out their website here.

To donate $1 to Reading is Fundamental (RIF) to help provide free books and literacy resources to children who need them most, click here. Please use “One Dollar Give” in the dedication portion of the donation form. After you’ve donated, come back and vote in the poll so that we can count donations!

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(Yes, the poll offers you the choice between “Yes.” and “Yes.” because I didn’t think we really needed to count the “No” answers, and the poll required two choices! Hey, it’s not a perfect system, but it’ll work!)