Back on our April 15, 2015 show, we first told you about Rachel Ley, who founded Literacy for Little Ones.  Rachel joins us today to bring us updates.

As an elementary student, Rachel Ley saw a prominent challenge facing several of her classmates – being able to read.  An avid reader herself, she was determined to help.  After discussing the issue with her mother, Rachel learned of the importance early literacy had in the development of a child’s education.  Rachel’s mother kept her on a “Ten-Books-A-Day Diet” as an infant, reading at least ten children’s books to Rachel each day.   Her mother believed this greatly impacted Rachel’s literacy skills, and after doing more research, Rachel agreed.

In April of 2009, the first Literacy for Little Ones book package was delivered to a family with a newborn child at Ministry St. Michael’s Hospital in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.  Since then, Rachel has engaged over 500 kids and teens to volunteer for the cause.  With the help of youth and generous donations, Literacy for Little Ones has spread the love of reading to over 4,500 families at six hospitals in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Nicaragua.   

The mission of Literacy for Little Ones is to encourage parents to read to their newborns, which creates a special bond in the family, establishes a strong foundation for education, and instills a lifelong love of reading.