Causes: Education, Elementary & Secondary Schools, Literacy, Preschools, Primary & Elementary Schools, Remedial Reading & Encouragement

Mission: The Tommy Two Shoes Literacy Project for Children's goal is to help encourage literacy within the youth of Arizona using our free book giveaway program. As educators, businessmen and women, parents, and grandparent, we are concerned that there are many children who do not have books at home and struggle with reading because of it. Our mission is to help improve reading skills by exciting children through our Read Day Event and provide each student in attendance with their own brand-new personal book to take home and keep. Reading is the most crucial academic skill because it is the foundation for learning. When children struggle with reading, they will also struggle with math, science, history, etc. Their academic careers and their future depend on being proficient in reading. That is where the Tommy Two Shoes Literacy Project for Children comes in. We will be the advocate for encouraging these students to read by igniting their passion through our free book giveaways.

Results: On our first Read Day Assembly we were able to partner with Schneider & Associate CPAs, P. C. and help donate over 100 books to Desert Sun Academy for their preschoolers. The excitement from all the children spoke multitudes of how much joy they felt from receiving their own book. Jennifer Auh from Fox10 was there and covered our story. To see more check out this link to see the full story of our Read Day Assembly! http://www. fox10phoenix. com/news/arizona-news/group-providing-free-new-books-for-schoolchildren

Target demographics: Preschool and Elementary School age Children

Geographic areas served: Arizona

Programs: We serve children ages 4-11, they come from all different ethnic backgrounds and income levels. We believe that no matter the background that every child deserves a new book to help encourage literacy. Arizona is 47th in students reading above basic 4th grade reading level. Our goal is to work to change this metric and improve the statistic that illiteracy has on those who are below even the 3rd grade reading level. We know the importance literacy is for the youth and the path students, who are struggling in reading, will have later in life. If a student struggles with reading they will also struggle in all other subjects; creating a life of hardship for that child. We want to be the advocate to help encourage these students to read through our free book giveaway