About Us
Read for Life was founded in 1989 by five women
passionate about improving literacy in Tulare County. The all-volunteer, non-profit
advocacy group distributes books to children and educates parents on the life-long difference reading can make – not just for one child or one family, but for an entire community.
It guides young parents to be their child’s first teacher beginning at birth, and provides children with age-appropriate books to call their own. Visalia County Center Rotary initially donated $3,000 in seed money to supply books for the County Teen Parenting programs. An estimated annual budget of $70,000 with monies from fund-raisers, grants, and individual donations also supports
Books for Kids,
Books for Babies
and
Pre-School
programs.
By The Numbers
13,400
Books Distributed fromJuly, 2021-Present (Pandemic)
96
Sites ServedCountywide
13,000
ChildrenReached
33
Years HelpingChildren to Read
Read For Life In Action
Since its start in 1989, Read for Life has donated a quarter million books to Tulare County children.
Read for Life supports all 12 Teen Age Parenting programs in Tulare County, plus 27 Head Start Pre-Schools. We give books and information to the pre-school migrant programs and home-based pre-schools.The Books for Babies program reaches new parents through health department sponsored prenatal classes, teaching them the importance of reading to their babies. Read for Life reaches out to children in crisis by placing books in shelters, homework centers, and health centers throughout Tulare County. We are involved in Cooperative Community programs in Woodlake and in Farmersville and hope to join more.
Want to learn more? You can subscribe to our annual newsletter or read our quarterly updates. Email donna@readforlife.org.
Parent Perspectives
"I enjoy reading to him because I like the way he gets happy”
Jessica - teen parent
“It’s important my baby likes reading like I do, and at such an early age.”
L.O. - teen parent
“He’s developing his language skills and I am really thankful.”
Angelica and baby Mason
“She knows it’s time to read because she smiles and I have fun with my baby.”
Einselda and baby Alexa
