cityofboston.gov

ReadBoston was founded by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and other city leaders in 1995 as a non-profit children's literacy organization with an ambitious goal: to ensure that every child in Boston can read at grade level by the end of the third grade. ReadBoston seeks to be a catalyst for change within all of Boston's diverse communities by funneling resources, innovative programs, and books into Boston neighborhoods, and by creating partnerships with organizations committed to helping children.

Currently, ReadBoston operates an array of literacy programs that target children from birth through age eight. ReadBoston programs reach children during school hours, through after-school programs, during summer vacation, and even before they are old enough to attend school. ReadBoston initiatives aim to foster a joy for reading at home, and seek to teach parents about the positive impacts of intentional verbal interaction with their children. Partnerships within Boston Pubic Schools provide 45,000 books to children each year, and work to encourage kids to read for enjoyment on their own.

The Highland Street Foundation is dedicated to education as a priority area, with more than half of our grants going to support a broad array of education-based programs. ReadBoston is a perfect complement to the Foundation's portfolio of organizations that focus on mentoring, literacy, and early childhood education.

Each summer, the ReadBoston "Storymobile" travels to sites throughout the city where professional storytellers delight children with entertaining tales, and each child attending receives a book to take home. One of the most visible locations for the Storymobile is the TADpole Playground on the Boston Common, which was completely renovated in 2002 with the Foundation's support. This wonderful space, adjacent to the Frog Pond, provides a safe and exciting place for Boston's children to play outdoors, and a premier location for ReadBoston to engage children and parents alike in activities that promote literacy. In 2007, the Highland Street Foundation granted additional assistance to facilitate the purchase of an additional Storymobile van. Having the Storymobile bring ReadBoston's efforts to the TADpole playground creates a tremendous synergy between work we believe in, and a place we truly love.