Ready for School

?? We’re Excited to Be Part of Community Impact Day! ?? Join us in making a difference! We’re looking for volunteers to help us get ready for our summer Kindergarten Readiness Camps at Holland Public Schools and West Ottawa Public Schools. This is a great opportunity to give back, support early education, and ensure local kids have the tools they need to succeed in school! ? Sign up today and be a part of something amazing!

Our 2nd Annual Golf Scramble is officially accepting golfers, sponsors & supporters! Mark your calendars for a fun morning out on the course supporting children and families right here in our community!

This week, our Ready for School staff and Board of Directors had a productive and inspiring day at our strategic planning retreat! A huge thank you to the Ottawa Area ISD for hosting us and to Creation In Common for sharing your expertise in strategy, early childhood education, and nonprofit work — your insights are invaluable! We’re excited to continue this strategic planning process over the next few months as we work toward increasing access to early education and supporting children in our community. Stay tuned for more updates!

? Exciting Announcement from Ready for School! ? We’re delighted to introduce Dr. Tiffany Munzer, MD as the new Medical Director for our statewide Reach Out and Read Michigan Program! Dr. Munzer brings a unique blend of expertise, compassion, and hands-on experience as both a Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician and mom of two. Her research at the University of Michigan underscores the profound power of print book reading to strengthen emotional bonds and verbal engagement between parents and children—perfectly aligned with Reach Out and Read Michigan's mission. Dr. Munzer shares: “Children deserve joyful, connected experiences to learn, grow, and develop. Reach Out and Read delivers on evidence-based opportunities for children and families to create moments that matter through shared book reading. Together, we can build a brighter, better future for our youngest and most impressionable minds.” From Angela DeLost, Ready for School President/CEO & Affiliate Leader for Reach Out and Read Michigan: “We are so excited to have Dr. Munzer join our team. Her incredible experience and heartfelt dedication to early literacy and family connection will help us make an even greater impact as we expand across Michigan.” Please join us in welcoming Dr. Munzer and celebrating her vision for empowering families and inspiring children to love reading. Let’s make a difference together! ???

Thank You for an Incredible 2024! This year has been unforgettable, and it’s all thanks to YOU—our amazing supporters! ?? From the 1st Annual Golf Outing to Pickleball for Preschool, and the heartwarming Breakfast for Dinner event, you showed up, played, and gave generously. Because of your support: ?? Kindergarten Readiness Camps and the Preschool Access Network helped children build confidence and skills. ?? Reach Out and Read Michigan brought the joy of books to families across our community. Together, we’ve made a difference in the lives of countless children, giving them the tools to enter school ready to thrive. Thank you for being part of this journey with us. ?? Here’s to building brighter futures in 2025!

We are excited about this opportunity to serve on the Reach Out and Read Michigan team! This hybrid role supports literacy programs that make a difference in the lives of children and families. Based in Wayne, Oakland, and Washtenaw Counties, you’ll collaborate with clinics and community partners to expand access to early literacy programs. Click this link to learn more! https://lnkd.in/gCiE9icW

As we enter the season of gratitude, consider a commitment of $25/month to help us bring quality early education and literacy to families. Your gift supports initiatives that help children in our community grow, thrive, and prepare for a lifetime of learning. Giving Tuesday is next week, will you join us? We appreciate you!

We’re honored to contribute to this meaningful work in our community, creating a positive impact together. Grateful to everyone supporting this important mission!

A special thank you to Mary, a dedicated volunteer for Reach Out and Read since 2010, who took the time to share such kind words with us. Mary, we're thrilled to know that our recent book donation has made its way into your caring hands and will soon be in the hands of young readers. Knowing the books we provided met your high standards makes us feel even more grateful for this work we get to do together. Thank you, Mary, for your heartfelt dedication to early literacy and for helping children across our community begin their lifelong love of reading. ???? Together, we’re building a community of readers—one story at a time!