1105 Fitzpatrick Avenue Opelika, AL Office: (334) 7495631 Fax: (334) 7410510 http://www.jeandeanrif.org/
BACKGROUNDER
Jean Dean RIF (Reading is Fundamental) was started in 1990 by Cathy Dean Gafford and her father Joe Dean as a part of the Kiwanis International Young Children (05). Jean Dean RIF is names after Cathy’s mother who passed away shortly after the start of the program. Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. is the oldest children's literacy organization in the United States. It is a nationwide nonprofit which brings children and books together to help young people acquire the habit of reading. RIF does more than help local sponsors distribute books to children, it develops a bettereducated, more informed public. This particular RIF provides over 75,000 quality, ageappropriate books to over 25,000 atrisk young children in Head Starts, Even Starts, state sponsored daycares and early intervention sites in every county in Alabama every year. Jean Dean RIF has made an inkind donation since 1991 of over $10 million to programs served which has justified over $40 million in grants to increase the benefits to these atrisk young children and their families. Today, Jean Dean RIF is hard at work planning their annual Truel Watts Ride to Read Poker Run event that has proven to be a huge success in previous years.
Contact:
Cathy Gafford, Director of Jean Dean RIF (334) 7495631 jeandeanrif@bellsouth.net ###