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Help Save RIF (Reading Is Fundamental)
April 7, 2008

President Bush’s proposed 2009 budget eliminates all the funding for Reading Is Fundamental’s book distribution program that has, since 1966, provided books to underprivileged children. 

According to RIF CEO/president Carol Rasco, if Bush’s budget is approved, 4.6 million children will not receive 16 million free books in 2009. RIF has been funded by Congress and six Administrations without interruption since 1975. It is the oldest and largest children’s and family nonprofit literacy organization in the U.S.

Want to voice your concerns and opinions to those who can do something about this? RIF’s Web site will find your senator and representative and provides a letter of support (that can be amended with your own comments) that will be sent to Bush, your senator and representative. You can also find out which senators and representatives signed a letter supporting appropriations for RIF.  

According to the New York Daily News, last year, RIF collected less than $7 million in private donations. The group would have to raise an additional $26 million to replace the federal funds.


Posted by Kevin Howell on April 7, 2008 | Comments (11)


April 7, 2008
In response to: Help Save RIF (Reading Is Fundamental)
Rose Fox commented:

Thanks for posting this information, Kevin. Those poor kids!




April 7, 2008
In response to: Help Save RIF (Reading Is Fundamental)
Kevin A. Lewis commented:

Aww, cheer up-if they grow up illiterate, they can always be endentured servants for Ann Coulter...It's high time the lower classes in this country started learning their place!




April 8, 2008
In response to: Help Save RIF (Reading Is Fundamental)
Elizabeth Devereaux commented:

I think people should also write to Laura Bush and Jenna Bush, who as authors of READ ALL ABOUT IT, a picture book about the magic of reading, might be asked why other people should find their ideas persuasive when Laura's own husband and Jenna's own father seems indifferent to them.




April 8, 2008
In response to: Help Save RIF (Reading Is Fundamental)
Elizabeth Devereaux commented:

I think people should also write to Laura Bush and Jenna Bush, who as authors of READ ALL ABOUT IT, a picture book about the magic of reading, might be asked why other people should find their ideas persuasive when Laura's own husband and Jenna's own father seems indifferent to them.




April 8, 2008
In response to: Help Save RIF (Reading Is Fundamental)
A Librarian commented:

I think Laura should summon up whatever molecule of librarian is still in her, and take a tip from Aristophanes: ixnay bj 'til RIF ok'd.




April 8, 2008
In response to: Help Save RIF (Reading Is Fundamental)
ediew commented:

Aside from the in-family children's books authors, what about NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND? Kids NEED books!




April 8, 2008
In response to: Help Save RIF (Reading Is Fundamental)
Allena Tapia commented:

Oh my goodness, Librarian, you win the cleverness prize. I'm thinking WTF is this guy THINKING? I need to see WHY. I have never been on the Bush is the Devil Bandwagon, but I'm getting there.




April 8, 2008
In response to: Help Save RIF (Reading Is Fundamental)
Allena Tapia commented:

Oh my goodness, Librarian, you win the cleverness prize. I'm thinking WTF is this guy THINKING? I need to see WHY. I have never been on the Bush is the Devil Bandwagon, but I'm getting there.




April 9, 2008
In response to: Help Save RIF (Reading Is Fundamental)
Peter Glassman, owner of Books of Wonder commented:

Contacting our congressional representatives and senators is certainly a good idea -- but what about us lending a hand? I've done several fund-raisers for RIF over the years. What could be more important to a bookseller than getting kids to read? After all, both booksellers and publishers will soon be out of business if there isn't a next generation of reading!




April 10, 2008
In response to: Help Save RIF (Reading Is Fundamental)
AB commented:

Could someone just give this guy a nice little chair to sit in and a piece of string to play with so he can avoid breaking anything else before his term is up? I'd suggest giving him a nice book to read in the corner, but that would be ironic. AB




April 10, 2008
In response to: Help Save RIF (Reading Is Fundamental)
A concerned School Librarian commented:

Ah...Cut "W" a break. He is still trying to get through his copy of "My Pet Goat." Someone should send him the Ciffnotes before his term is up in 284 days.





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