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A National Campaign

Parents Inspiring the Creativity and Capability of Children, One Book at a Time.

Picture a child – any child – sitting comfortably in his parent’s lap, enjoying a story being read aloud.  This simple act, repeated daily for as little as 10 minutes, improves parenting and bestows on the child the gifts of love, language, creativity and a promising future.  Promoting this nurturing and educational family activity the mission of the Read it LOUD! Campaign.

Building on the reading promotion and young readers initiative of The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, a three-year public-private partnership – Read it LOUD! -  has been formed with the Read it LOUD! Foundation to stimulate 5,000,000 parents nationwide to read every day to their children.   Many sponsors and donors are joining this extraordinary partnership.

The charitable purpose is to develop a highly visible national campaign with the assistance of media, business, community leaders, celebrities, and community-based organizations.   In addition, this broad based partnership will implement a variety of creative strategies and incentives to stimulate and galvanize local resources and participation - highlighting the importance, values and benefits of reading aloud to children from birth to 6 years old.  At the same time, this initiative supports and encourages all in the direct service literacy, library and educational world to expand their resources, renew their focus and help create a national movement.

The initial Campaign Chairs will be Wally "Famous Amos," an entrepreneur and literacy advocate, and Dr. James Billington, the Librarian of Congress. Other prominent spokespeople are also being contacted to share the role of Campaign Chair and speak on behalf of this effort. Wally uses his well-known name to support educational causes and to serve as the National Spokesperson for Literacy Volunteers of America from 1979 to 2002. As a literary advocate, Wally serves on the Boards of the National Center for Family Literacy, Read to Me International, and Communities in Schools, and many others.