Salinas, California, May 10, 2022, The Read to Me Project, a nonprofit organization that helps under-served children achieve kindergarten readiness announces Julia Foster as its new executive director. Out of a field of highly qualified applicants, Julia Foster became the top candidate with significant breadth and depth of nonprofit and leadership experience. Foster will take the helm on Monday, June 6th.
Julia Foster brings over a decade of experience working in nonprofit organizations around Monterey County. She deeply believes in the power of literacy and the lifelong opportunities that it brings. Most recently, Julia was the Executive Director for the Foundation for Monterey County Free Libraries. As a self-proclaimed “people person”, Julia is passionate about connecting with those around her and building relationships. She holds a BA in Translation and Interpretation from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and a MA in International Public Policies from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. In her free time, Julia enjoys reading with her kids, hiking, and wine tasting.
About Read to Me Project – Read to Me Project is a prevention-based program that addresses the alarming issue of low-literacy in Monterey County. Seven out ten children start kindergarten as much as two years behind in cognitive, vocabulary and language skills – most never catch up. RtMP’s impacts emerging student readers, little ones (ages 0 to 5 years) and their parents in rich and nurturing ways by building student reading confidence, sibling bonds, kindergarten readiness, and disrupting the generational cycle of low literacy among Monterey County’s underserved families. The Read to Me Project has the capacity to change lives by bringing books and literacy into homes and by helping children achieve their full potential through a lifetime of literacy and equitable opportunity.
For more information contact Mary De Groat, mary@readtomeproject.org.
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Salinas, California – June 2, 2021 – The Read to Me Project (RtMP), the 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization helping children in low literate families to achieve kindergarten readiness, is delighted to announce the promotion of Kirstin van Gend to program director. Her new role becomes effective July 1, 2021.
Kirsten van Gend graduated Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey with a Master of Public Administration with a specialization in Human Rights, Gender, and Identity. She was hired as the Read to Me Project program manager in May 2019 and has since worked closely with the organization’s Founder Barbara Greenway gleaning institutional knowledge, details of program implementation, brainstorming new efficiencies, and determining solutions to program challenges. She was vital to the organization’s quick adaptations for continuing program delivery when schools closed in March 2020 due to the Covid crisis. She was also integral to developing the new online implementation logistics for delivering the program in 2020/21 while hiring, training, and managing the program coordinator team.
She was one of nineteen accepted into the acclaimed LEAD Institute for 2019/2020 (Leadership Education and Development). LEAD is a year-long program for nonprofit managers conducted through the Community Foundation for Monterey County and its Center for Nonprofit Excellence.
When asked what inspires her about the Read to Me Project, van Gend says, “I am inspired by the value the organization places on equipping the elementary school children to be change-makers in the community, we prioritize the message to these students that they can make a difference in their little one’s lives. I am inspired by the students who are excited to help their little ones to do better in school one day. I love hearing them share about the joyful times they have together!”
About Read to Me Project – Founded in 2011, Read to Me Project (RtMP) is a prevention-based program that addresses the seriousness of low-literacy in Monterey County, which is a significant cause of many societal issues. Seven out of ten children start kindergarten as much as two years behind in cognitive, vocabulary and language skills – most never catch up. RtMP’s impacts are deep and far reaching. The program impacts entire families in rich and nurturing ways by building student reading confidence, deepening sibling bonds, establishing kindergarten readiness, and disrupting the generational cycle of low literacy. More cost-effective than remediation, RtMP is a unique and simple model with the capacity to change lives by helping children achieve their full potential through a lifetime of literacy and opportunity.
For more information contact Mary De Groat, Director of Development and Marketing, mary@readtomeproject.org.
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February, 2020 – iHeart radio interview with Mary De Groat & Annette Oswald, Ed.D
iHeart Radio – Interview by Mark Carbonaro
On the importance of early literacy experiences during a child’s first 5 years of life. Learn about Read to Me Project and how it is addressing the alarming fact that 7 out 10 children are starting school as much as two years behind. 30 minute interview.
November, 2016 – Nonprofit builds literacy skills one book at a time
Carmel Magazine – by Renee Brincks
Speech and language therapist Barbara Greenway founded the Read to Me Project, which provides books to classrooms and 4th-6th graders to read to their siblings.
September 26, 2016 – Taylor Farms funds reading program
The Packer – by Mike Hornick
Taylor Farms is funding implementation of the Read to Me Project in seven fourth-grade classrooms at La Gloria Elementary School, Gonzales, Calif.
September, 2016 – Taylor Farms Supports Early-Learning And Literacy Program In Gonzales Classrooms
Perishable News – by Read to Me Project
Taylor Farms is funding implementation of the Read to Me Project in Gonzales, California.