Join Us in SOARing to New Heights: Doubling Our Impact on Child Literacy!
The Hough Family Foundation has committed to a $1-for-$1 matching gift for not just 2024, but also for 2025 and 2026. If SOAR can raise $200,000 in 2024, the Hough Family Foundation will match it, effectively doubling our impact.Sing Out and READ, Inc. (SOAR), an organization dedicated to "saving struggling young readers from illiteracy through the power of singing," is thrilled to announce a remarkable opportunity to expand its impact. SOAR's groundbreaking program has consistently demonstrated outstanding results, with children advancing a full reading grade level in just three months – a significant achievement that sets them on a path to lifelong success.
Recently, SOAR has experienced an unprecedented surge in demand, with a flood of new families requesting access to our reading program. This heightened interest underscores the critical need for our services, as the National Assessment of Education Progress reports that two-thirds of children nationwide cannot read at grade level. Recognizing that students who struggle with reading by third grade often face long-term academic challenges, SOAR provides its innovative program at no cost to families, ensuring that at-risk struggling readers can access this vital resource.
The efficacy of SOAR's approach is grounded in robust research, including studies conducted by the University of South Florida and a report from Kent State University titled "Evidence of Efficacy: The Family Literacy Project." Additionally, SOAR employs numerous outcome measurements to ensure and confirm that reading improvement results are both measurable and sustainable.
In response to the overwhelming demand – exemplified by over 190 requests received in a single 24-hour period at the start of this academic year – the Hough Family Foundation has stepped forward with a transformative offer. They have committed to a $1-for-$1 matching gift for not just 2024, but also for 2025 and 2026. If SOAR can raise $200,000 in 2024, the Hough Family Foundation will match it, effectively doubling our impact.
“We love the work you are doing, and we wish you good luck doing something no one else has been able to accomplish in 50 years. We are excited to be a part of this, and just imagine how incredible it will be if we actually ‘move the needle’ and close the achievement reading gap in South Pinellas County: but more importantly how being able to read at a proficient level will change each of these students’ lives in a profound way.”
With just three months to meet the matching gift amount, SOAR is calling on everyone who believes in the power of literacy to join this movement. We invite you to donate or contact us directly to learn how you can partner with SOAR in reducing the reading gap for struggling young readers. Together, we can make a lasting difference in the lives of children and strengthen our communities through the gift of literacy.
Remember, every dollar you give will be doubled thanks to the Hough Family Foundation match. Don't miss this chance to make twice the impact!Direct Donations:
Carlo Franzblau
Co-founder + (Interim) Executive Director
