R EAD FOR L IFE
W i n t er 20 14
UPDATE
2014—O NE FO R T HE B O O K S !
Our Tulare County community donated
more than 10,000 books in one day this
March. This ABC 30 sponsored book drive
brought people to the circle drive at COS,
emptying their children’s shelves of outgrown books. Disney Corporation matched
this with 10,000 new books that will be
used in our programs and for libraries
served by Tulare County Office of Education. Read for Life thanks the many book
donors, ABC 30,
Tulare County Office of Education,
and COS for making this book drive
a huge success.
Students from Central Valley Christian drop off donated
books while Amanda Venegas of ABC 30 broadcasts.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Twenty-five years ago five women came together to reduce
the high rate of illiteracy in Tulare County. I was one of the
five, and what a journey it has been! I am proud to be a part
of the Read for Life organization and to be supported by a
dedicated board and enthusiastic program volunteers .
To help fund our continuing expansion with all of our programs, we welcome grant writer Laurel Barton to our Read for
Life family. In addition to her grant writing skills, Laurel brings
years of community service experience.
In May of this year, Read for Life was nominated for Visalia
Chamber of Commerce Non-Profit of the Year. Read for Life is
honored to be considered as one of the community’s most
highly effective non-profits.
We couldn’t do all we do without your support. Read for Life
is a good investment. Every dollar donated stays in Tulare
County and is multiplied many times by the efforts of volunteers, teachers, and parents. Thank you for your support and
generosity.
Susan Graves, President
“Reading regularly with young children stimulates optimal patterns of brain development and strengthens
parent-child relationships at a critical time in child development, which, in turn, builds language, literacy, and
social-emotional skills that last a lifetime.” American Academy of Pediatrics, 2014 policy statement
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BOOKS
FOR
BABIES
Books for Babies gave out nearly 1,000 reading packets to new
parents in Tulare County during 2014. Packets contain a new
book, a keepsake “Baby’s First Song Book,” and developmental
cards listing babies’ milestones and suggested books for ages 0-5.
Packets are distributed through prenatal classes by health professionals, showing parents the importance of providing for their
child’s intellectual development as well as the child’s physical
health.
For more information or to volunteer call Anne Fulmer 303-4751.
BOOKS
FOR
KIDS
Books for Kids is our only program that distributes gently
used as well as new books. In 2014, Books for Kids distributed a total of 13,780 books to 44 locations throughout Tulare County. Sites include Family Health Care Network clinics countywide, rescue missions and battered
women’s shelters, plus after-school programs such as
Grandma's House in Tulare and a new book corner at
Kaweah Delta.
For more information or to volunteer call Rosalie Powell
734-7251.
PRE-SCHOOL PROGRAMS
Once again we would like to thank g for Kids for their generous
grant that allows us to continue to expand our early literacy programs. During 2014 we gave books to these pre-school programs.
 Bright Start TCOE developmentally challenged children
 Tulare County Migrant program,
 Early Childhood Education Program
 Home Based Head Start
 Goshen Book Club
 Mis Hijos Program of Visalia Unified
For more information or to volunteer call Mimi Boyd
625-1341.
TEEN-AGE PARENTING PROGRAMS
A N D H E A D S TA R T P R E - S C H O O L S
Read for Life is actively involved in promoting family literacy by donating books to
children at Head Start Pre-Schools and teen parenting programs in Tulare County.
Read for Life has expanded our book donations to ALL 31 Head Start locations
countywide, for a combined total of 4800 English and Spanish books donated to
children ages 3-5.
For more information or to volunteer call Deborah Lagomarsino, TAPP/Head Start
Chair, 625-3433.
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READ FOR LIFE EXPANDS THROUGHOUT TULARE COUNTY
Collective Impacts in Woodlake and Farmersville: Read for Life is involved in donating books in collaborative efforts to improve literacy in both Woodlake and
Farmersville. In Woodlake we are partnering with
local organizations and the Fresno Regional Foundation. In Farmersville, Read for Life is serving on the
steering committee of a large partnership made up
of First 5, Pro-Youth HEART, Boys & Girls Club, and
HandsOn Central California.
CASA: In 2014, Read for Life provided literacy training for Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers to help them better serve the many needs
of their assigned children and families. We have
made 600 books available at the CASA office for
families to take home.
Kids for Christmas: Through this local program
Read for Life gives over 400 new books to children
who would otherwise not have books in their homes.
Santa gives a stocking to a Tulare
County student at the Kids for Christmas event in 2013. This year’s event
will be on Dec. 13 at Liberty School.
READ FOR LIFE THANKS OUR 2013-2014 DONORS
$1000 and more
AGSOURCE Services (Lagomarsino Group), The Belay
Foundation, City of Visalia,
Creek Rock Services, g for
Kids, Bob and Elainea
Scott, Visalia County Center
Rotary Club, Joellen Wilson,
Sharon Woolman
$500 and more
Glenn and Janet Lewis, Armida and Guadalupe Picon,
George and Carol Pilling,
Joy and Rich Sakai, Save
Mart Shares Program, Valley Yoga—Brenda Proudfoot
Read for Life is a 501C3
non–profit organization.
Your contributions are taxdeductible. Please send to:
Read for Life
P.O.Box 3342
Visalia, CA 93278-3342
You can also contribute at
www.readforlife.org
$250 and more
Mark and Anne Fulmer, Susan
and Jody Graves, Robert and
Anne Havard, Christine Nelson,
Paul and Linda Thomton
$100 and more:
Alternative Billing Consultants,
Charlene Blunt, Michael and Mimi
Boyd, Benjamin Cator, Phyllis Coring, Donna Denham, Joanne
Carter Dudley, Barbara and Paul
Feucht, Denise Fletcher, Peter and
Ruth Golombek, Carole and John
Greening, Kathryn Hall, Mimi Hoffman, Deborah and Fred Lagomarsino, Judy Lawsen, Frances Levy,
Susan and Robert Machado, Beth
and Stephen McAuliff, Doug and
Cyndy McBee, Patricia Moore,
Betsy Murphy, Cindy Myers and
Dale Rowden, Sharon Peck, Barbara Peltzer, Rita Peña, Rosalie
Powell, Deane Reed, Steve and
Carmella Renton, Angie and Andy
Rizzo, Gary and Connie Ruddell,
Judy Russ, Melody R. Schepp,
Charles and Sherraine Sheldon,
Rosemary Shelton, Wendy and
Stan Simpson, Betty and Gordon
Smith, Drew and Leslie Sorenson,
Don and Jonnie Stone, Cathy
Tienken, Mike and Vickie Torres,
Cassie L. Travo, Neva Wright
Other Generous Donors
$50 and more:
Pete and Joan Akin, Lynn and
Gerry Beckers, Sandy and Paul
Bennett, Sandy Blizzard, John and
Susan Booker, Maryanne Brannan, Paul and Dorris Bratsch,
Nadav Buzi, Karen Carlstrom,
Janis Christopher, Chuck and
Carol Delap, Marilyn Doe, Carol
Enns and Don Nikkel, Richard
and Mary Estes, Patti Fiormonte,
Elaine Geeting, Cherrill Gragg,
Margaret Hall, Gina Haycock, Jack
and Sue Hayslett, Christian and
Janice Helgeson, Don Holzem,
Joan Huffaker, Susan Kreps,
Frank and Janet Linik, David and
Betty Miller, Tracey and Richard
Neff, Brian and Judy Newton,
Donna Orozco, Cheryl Payne, Marsha and Tom Peltzer, Monica R
Pizura, Jim and Bonnie Preston,
Sheila Quesada, Marla and Ed
Reyes, Don and Kathy Roark,
Marlin and Fahime Roehl, Judy
Russ, Diane Post and Paul
Schommer, Carol and Greg
Seastrom, Phillip and Toni Simons, Tricia and Barry Smith,
Jeffrey and Susan Tackett, Bonnie
Thiele, Stephanie and Bill Thiessen, Serpralo Circle Visalia United
Methodist Church, Marilyn Watson
Joan Avedian, John and Janet Beacom, Walter and Sharon Bentley,
Mary Ann Brensel, Lynne Brumit,
Wallace and Darlene Byars, John
and Nan Colbert, Michelle Ducey,
Joyce Elliott, Natalie Feller, Laura
Florez-McCusker, Keren Friedman,
Lew and Trish Griswold, Roberta
Hagopian, C. Richard and Donna
Hamilton, John and Pat Hansen,
Betty Hays, Helen Henriksen,
Rosemary Jackson, Betty and Tom
Johnson, Carole and John Jordan,
Michael and Judy Keller, Allison
Kleinstuber, Paula and Frank
Kuklinski, Wayne and Sally
Lovejoy, Joyanne Lukes, Shirlyn
Malley, Cyndy McBee, Charlene
Minetti, Clae Nave, Sandra J.
O'Dell, Phyllis Ogden, Anne Parlier,
Debra Phillips, Kimberly Pryor,
Teresa Ramos, Richard and Peggy
Rodriguez, Lodene Roush, Janet
Sward and Warren Sargent, Edith
Schroeder, Laurie Schwaller, Sharon and Mike Sheltzer, Steve and
Ruth Sibbett, Rich and Andrea
Sigmund, Renella and Gregory
Smith, Darrel Smith, Doug Snider
and Marilyn Harper, Barbara and
Ralph Strong, Christina
Sundstrom, Margo Tressler, Karen
Vanni, Marla Woodcock
Invest in Literacy:
www.readforlife.org
Read For Life
P.O. Box 3342
Visalia CA 93278
READ FOR LIFE
BOARD MEMBERS & STAFF
SUSAN GRAVES, President 798-0126
GEORGE PILLING, Vice-President 901-6676
DEBORAH LAGOMARSINO, Past President,
Teenage Parenting Chair 625-3433
JOY SAKAI, Treasurer 798-2105
MIMI BOYD, Preschool Programs 625-1341
ANNE FULMER, Secretary, Books for Babies
303-4571
BETH McAULIFF, Volunteer Coordinator 7321343
CYNDY McBEE, Books for Kids 623-9066
LAURA FLOREZ-McCUSKER 280-9374
TERESA RAMOS 723-3668
JUDY RUSS 734-8708
KAREN VANNI, South Valley Coordinator 3598324
ROSALIE POWELL, Books for Kids 734-7251
LAUREL BARTON, Grantwriter 679-6133
“If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent,
read them more fairy tales.” Albert Einstein
www.readforlife.org
SCHOLARSHIPS
Read for Life awarded “Pass the Word” scholarships to Madison Elick of Tulare Union
High School and Marisa Martin of Golden West High School for their work in promoting
literacy in Tulare County. The awards were presented by Debbie Lagomarsino.
Madison Elick worked with Read
for Life for four years, collecting
books at her church and delivering
books to many sites through our
Books for Kids Program.
Marisa Martin volunteered to read
books to blind children and created
her own touch and feel books to
share with these children in Tulare
County.
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Keira Bixler, a St. Paul’s School third grader who has collected and donated nearly 4,000 books to
Read for Life since starting kindergarten!
 The Mt. Whitney Partners in Vocational Education and Training students who put Read for Life
stickers on donated books.
 Mt. Whitney High volunteers Ellie and Ben Warmerdam


With another generous g for Kids grant, Read for Life continues to
expand early literacy programs. In 2014, 1,000 books and reading
packets were distributed among pre-schools countywide.