Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: The Reading Connection
Legal Name (if Different): N/A
Also Known As: TRC
Mailing Address: 1501 Lee Highway, Suite 170
City: Arlington
State: VA
Postal Code: 22209
Main Phone: 703-528-8317
Main Fax: 703-528-3225
Organization Website: www.thereadingconnection.org
Employer ID Number: 54-1628863
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)(3)

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 2/19/16
Requested Amount: $5,000

Project Title: Road to Reading
Project Description:

The Reading Connection respectfully requests a grant of $5,000 from the Hermanowski Family Foundation to support our literacy programs for at-risk children and families in Washington DC metro area. Our five literacy programs (Read-Alouds, Book Club, Reading Family Workshops, Literacy Advocacy Trainings and Launching Young Readers) offer a suite of services that begins when children enter emergency housing or become clients of our partner social service agencies. Our mission is to improve the lives of at-risk children and families by helping them create and sustain literacy-rich environments and motivation for reading. TRC accomplishes this mission by: deploying trained volunteers who read aloud to children at homeless shelters, transitional housing sites, affordable housing complexes, domestic violence safe houses, and several local social service agencies; providing kids with free, new books to keep; providing workshops that help parents encourage reading and literacy development at home; and training social service agency and early-education professionals about the critical importance of early literacy experiences for those they serve.

History: In 1989, a group of educators from the Greater Washington Reading Council noted that their students who lived in a local homeless shelter faced huge obstacles when starting school and learning to read. Council volunteers launched a service project at the shelter that has evolved into what today is The Reading Connection, which served over 1,000 vulnerable children and distributed close to 14,000 books last year.

Outcomes: Other accomplishments from FY15 include:
• 96% of parents reported that their children are more interested in reading;
• 96% of parents reported that TRC has helped them make reading a part of their family’s daily routine;
• 99% of parents reported that they feel more confident sharing books with their child;
• 93% of partner-agency staff reported increased confidence in talking with their parent-clients about sharing books with their children.

Total Project Budget: $723,857 (FY16)

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Our largest FY16 committed or expected funding sources include: Barbie Collector’s Convention (special event) ($42,586); The Jones Foundation ($40,000); Cafritz Foundation ($35,000); Freddie Mac ($25,000); Montgomery County (MD) Council ($20,000); The Boeing Company ($17,000); Clark-Winchcole Foundation ($15,000); John Edward Fowler Foundation ($15,000); Alexandria (VA) Fund for Human Services ($14,957); Harry & Zoe Poole Foundation ($10,000); Washington Forrest Foundation ($10,000); Richard & Nancy Marriott Foundation ($10,000). We are fortunate to receive many smaller grants and sponsorships throughout the year. In addition, we anticipate a total of $90,000 in individual giving and $107,000 in revenue from our annual fundraiser.

Project Duration: Year-round
Geographical Area Served: Washington, DC metro area
Age Group To Be Served: Birth to age 16

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms.
Contact First Name: Tammy
Contact Last Name: De Martino
Contact Title: Development Manager
Contact Phone: 703-528-8317 x15
Contact Email: tdemartino@thereadingconnection.org