Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Start the Adventure in Reading
Legal Name (if Different): Start the Adventure in Reading, Inc.
Also Known As: STAIR
Mailing Address: 1545 State Street
City: New Orleans
State: Louisiana
Postal Code: 70118
Main Phone: 504-899-0820
Main Fax: N/A
Organization Website: https://www.stairnola.org/
Employer ID Number: 72-1178996
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)(3) nonprofit exempt

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: March 19, 2025
Requested Amount: $10,000

Project Title: Start the Adventure in Reading 2026
Project Description:

With 51% of second graders and 47% of 3rd graders failing reading last year, childhood illiteracy is a critical problem in New Orleans. To combat this, our goals are threefold: 1) get students to read at grade level; 2) increase their self-esteem; 3) create a life-long love of reading. The children we serve are primarily low-income with 48% of students living in a single-parent household and 88% of students qualifying for free and reduced meals. We meet the literacy needs of each student individually wherever they are in their educational journey. Our curriculum bridges the divide that low-literate students face by incorporating diverse characters, concepts, and levels to build a strong reading foundation. Each week, tutors and students read together, practice phonics, learn sight words and vocabulary, work on reading comprehension, play word games, and write stories. For a child struggling to read, there is no substitute for receiving consistent, weekly one-on-one tutoring from an adult. Each semester, students receive 12 age-appropriate books free-of-charge to establish or add to their home libraries so they can continue their newfound love of reading. When a student participates through second and third grade, they will receive a total of 48 books. With your support, we plan to achieve the following two outcomes with 150 students: 1) Increase students’ baseline reading comprehension from 30 words correct per minute to 50 words correct per minute; 2) 90% of students will show marked improvement in reading and comprehension assessments, increasing their literacy and self-esteem. Improving literacy improves lives. Thank you for your consideration in partnering with us to help more children learn how to read.

Total Project Budget: $283,000

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Goldring Family & Woldenberg Foundations $15,000 Committed; Fore!Kids Foundation $15,000 Committed; Entergy $40,000 Potential; The Campbell Foundation $35,000 Potential

Project Duration: 1/1/2026 – 12/31/2026
Geographical Area Served: Greater New Orleans
Age Group To Be Served: 7- to 9-year-old children in second and third grade

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms.
Contact First Name: Jennie
Contact Last Name: Merrill Boudreaux
Contact Title: Executive Director
Contact Phone: 402-202-1182
Contact Email: jennie@stairnola.org