June 26, 2022
Read On Communities
Read On Phoenix is one of three Campaign for Grade-Level Reading sites to receive funding from the Vanguard Foundation for family engagement that supports language and early literacy development. This grant is an example of how Read On Arizona leverages national partnerships to bring additional resources to local Arizona communities in support our shared strategic priorities.
The funding is being used to pilot the expansion of the City of Phoenix’s Great Start Initiative to provide families of children in Title I schools with free admission to fun, educational and cultural attractions before they begin kindergarten.
Parents play an important role in helping their young children learn and grow through back-and-forth conversations, reading together, and providing opportunities to explore and discover new things.
Great Start provides families with free access to: Arizona Latino Arts and Cultural Center, Arizona Science Center, Children’s Museum of Phoenix, Desert Botanical Gardens, Japanese Friendship Garden, Musical Instrument Museum, Phoenix Zoo, and Pueblo Grande Museum.
To date, more than 1,000 Great Start participants have visited these amazing cultural organizations, with more scheduled in the coming months.
Participants also receive a kindergarten readiness tip card/flyer — developed in partnership with Read On Arizona and First Things First — with more ways to help their child be ready for school. Flyers are available in English and Spanish.
