Phoenix, AZ – Read Better Be Better (RBBB), a Phoenix-based nonprofit after-school reading comprehension program, received a $50,000 grant from the BHHS Legacy Foundation. Grant monies received will go directly to supporting three sites within the Alhambra Elementary School District and technologies to run the program sites efficiently.
According to the Arizona Department of Education’s 2019 AzMERIT test results, fifty-six percent of Arizona third-grade students are not proficient in reading. Read Better Be Better equips and inspires middle school youth to help those third graders struggling with reading comprehension.
RBBB’s efforts go beyond improving literacy rates and reading enjoyment in third graders. Middle school students participating in the program are not typical youth leaders.
Cordova Elementary Principal Dr. Spearman said, “The [middle school] students who participated were mostly ‘at-risk’ students and really enjoyed [RBBB], as well as showed improvement in their responsibility.”
“Read Better Be Better’s approach to literacy is unique in Arizona,” said Sophie Etchart, Founder and CEO. “By engaging youth leaders to provide the solution to our at-risk third graders, we work to build communities from within. The elementary students improve their reading comprehension and learning skills while the middle schoolers develop leadership skills and become more empowered to effect change in their communities.”
BHHS Legacy Foundation awards grants to organizations focusing on children and families that strengthen the community. BHHS supports community collaborations that focus on children, family, and senior services to reach their full potential. To date, both the Foundation and Legacy Connection have invested more than $75 million to highly effective nonprofit projects, programs, and organizations that provide care and services to the underserved in the community.
For more information about Read Better Be Better, visit www.readbetterbebetter.org.
Written by:
Billie Brown
media@readbetterbebetter.org
(602) 404-6030 ext. 1008