The Patterson Foundation Contributes to National Campaign

October 6, 2021 – Sarasota

The Patterson Foundation has contributed $250,000 to support the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading’s nationwide efforts to ensure that more children from asset-limited families succeed in school and are adequately prepared for college, a career and active citizenship. The Foundation has given more than $2 million to strengthen the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading’s work as an Anchor Funder since 2013. Beyond these financial contributions, the Foundation continues to provide strategy and consulting support for the national Campaign.

This contribution seeks to catalyze additional support for the national network of communities working to build better futures for some of the nation’s most vulnerable children by ensuring they are able to read on grade-level by the end of third grade. The GLR Campaign includes more than 350 communities in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and two provinces in Canada.

“The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading’s commitment to childhood success in asset-limited families throughout the country is inspiring,” said Debra Jacobs, president and CEO of The Patterson Foundation. “As a staunch supporter for many years, The Patterson Foundation is dedicated to furthering the Campaign’s impact through financial and consulting means both nationally and here on the Suncoast.”

The failure to read proficiently by the end of third grade remains one of the major obstacles in the pathway out of poverty. At this time, 80 percent of children from asset-limited families are not reaching this critical milestone. The GLR Campaign seeks to end this cycle of generational poverty by mobilizing communities to engage a broad base of stakeholders to improve school readiness, attendance and summer learning opportunities. It also emphasizes strategies to help parents serve as their children’s first teachers while connecting families with health resources to reduce societal challenges associated with reading on grade-level.

“The Patterson Foundation’s ongoing investment in our success goes well beyond its funding support,” said Ralph Smith, managing director of the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading. “Consistent with its ‘more than money philanthropy’ philosophy, The Patterson Foundation has invested considerable talent and time to serve as our thought partner, strategic adviser and navigation guide.”

In addition to this support, The Patterson Foundation works with the Florida Grade-Level Reading Campaign and serves as the lead partner of the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, which promotes grade-level reading efforts in Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota counties. The Suncoast Campaign has consistently received recognition for its work, including multiple Pacesetter Honors, one of the highest awards presented by the GLR Campaign, and the prestigious All-America City Award.

To learn more about The Patterson Foundation, visit thepattersonfoundation.org. Visit gradelevelreading.net for more information about the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading.