Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: American Academy of Pediatrics CA Chapter 3
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As: AAP-CA3
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 22212
City: San Diego
State: California
Postal Code: 92192
Main Phone: 8583614644
Main Fax:
Organization Website: www.aapca3.org
Employer ID Number: 33-0782521
Organization Tax Status: 501 c3

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 2/3/2026
Requested Amount: $5,000

Project Title: Reach Out and Read San Diego (RORSD) – Children’s books for low-income clinics
Project Description:

AAP-CA3 works with 110 pediatric clinics across San Diego County to implement our “doctor prescribed” literacy program, Reach Out and Read San Diego, emphasizing talking, reading, and singing with babies starting at birth.

RORSD trains pediatricians, caring for underserved children, to share read aloud techniques, and we provide a new book during every well-child checkup from birth to age 5.

As a standard of care, our program pediatricians encourage and teach parents how to read aloud and engage with their infants, and toddlers every day. The parent-child book interaction promotes early literacy, bonding, and responsive parenting, helping to curb problem behaviors like aggression, and difficulty with attention.

Evidence shows that families participating in Reach Out and Read read together more frequently, parents are more likely to share books with their children and they report that reading is one of their child’s favorite activities. Families are more likely to own 10 or more children’s books. When children get to kindergarten they have better language, cognitive and social emotional skills, making them better prepared to learn and succeed in school.

Our biggest challenge is having enough book supply to keep up with our sites’ well child visits.

A $5,000 grant will purchase over 1,700 children’s books for our sites in most need. In 2025 our volunteer pediatricians distributed 186,104 books to 119,300 children. Each of these books was given to the child along with our message to parents about the importance of reading aloud with their child every day. These families will receive a book and reinforcement of our read aloud message 10 times before the age of 5!

Your grant will help fund the costs and investment of books and early reading aloud, starting at birth, supporting parents to be the first teachers of their young children. Any amount is helpful.

Total Project Budget: $486,877

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Committed: CJ Stafford and Dot Stafford Memorial Trust, Believe in Reading, San Diego Lions Welfare Foundation, Samuel H. French & Katherine Weaver French Fund, Henry L. Guenther Foundation, Bravo Foundation, Nordson Corporation Foundation, Dr. Seuss Foundation & San Diego Foundation, Price Philanthropies. Potential: Rhynard Family Foundation, Kiwanis La Jolla, Smart & Final Charitable Foundation, Hunter Industries Charitable Giving, Bessie Minor Swift Foundation, HealthEquity Community Foundation, SD County Board of Supervisors, Zable Foundation, CECO, Cushman. More applications in work.

Project Duration: 1/1/2027 to 6/30/2027
Geographical Area Served: All of San Diego County
Age Group To Be Served: Children – 0 to 5 years old

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Mrs.
Contact First Name: Tara
Contact Last Name: Milbrand
Contact Title: Project Director, Reach Out and Read San Diego
Contact Phone: 8583614644
Contact Email: tmilbrand@aapca3.org