WHO WE ARE?
Helping children to succeed using the magic of reading
Welcome to our website! We are a non-profit organization founded by two high school students who are passionate about promoting literacy in under-resourced communities and schools in New York. Our mission is to raise funds to provide books, educational resources, and other support to help children and families improve their literacy skills.
We started this organization because we saw firsthand how important literacy is for success in life. We want to make a difference in our community and help other children have the same opportunities to learn and grow.
Our team is made up of dedicated volunteers who share our passion for literacy and our commitment to making a difference. We believe that by working together, we can help create a brighter future for children in New York and beyond.
Thank you for visiting our website and for supporting our mission to promote literacy for all. Together, we can make a difference!
NEW YORK LITERACY PROJECT
Books, knowledge & opportunities for everyone.
New York Literacy Project (NYLP) is a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation whose mission is to raise awareness for the need of books and other learning materials in under-resourced communities. Using a variety of fund-raising activities and through the support of generous donors, NYLP seeks to provide financial aid to needy schools and communities in New York, as well as partner with similarly focused organizations in their efforts to promote literacy and the access to books for all.
Join us in our mission to create a better world for everyone!
We believe that literacy is a fundamental human right, and that every child deserves access to books and educational resources, regardless of their background or economic status. We work with local schools and community organizations to identify the areas of greatest need and provide targeted support to those communities.
Through fundraising and community support, we provide access to quality literature and educational resources, empowering children with the tools they need to succeed in school and beyond. Any donation is greatly appreciated, and we are always willing to have new volunteers join us in our cause!
LITERACY FACTS
The ability to read, write, speak, and listen in a way that lets us communicate effectively and make sense of the world. Literacy permeates all areas of life, fundamentally shaping how we learn, work, and socialize.
Literacy Definitions
Literacy:
Book Desert:
A geographic area that lacks consistent access to high-quality, affordable, print children's books.
1. According to the U.S. Department of Education, 54% of U.S. adults 16-74 years old - about 130 million people - lack proficiency in literacy, reading below the equivalent of a sixth-grade level. Forbes
2. 43% of adults with the lowest literacy skills live in poverty. "New York State has a literacy problem." Literacy New York, Fission Content Management System
3. Upwards of 85% of youth and 75% of prisoners cannot read above a 4th grade level.
What does literacy look like across the U.S.?
83% of children in low-income families have reading skills below the proficiency mark
World Literacy Foundation. (2018). The Economic & Social Cost of Illiteracy.
Those who do not read proficiently by third grade are four times more likely to leave school without a diploma than proficient readers.
Poverty Influence High School Graduation. Baltimore, Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2012
Us Literacy Rates By State 2020. World Population Review, 2020
"New York has the second-highest percentage of adults lacking basic prose literacy skills in the United States.
New York State has a literacy problem.
Herndon, Lisa. "New program aims to bring 100 percent literacy by 2026.
A total of 3.4 million New York State residents are either reading below the 5th grade level, lack a High School Diploma, or cannot speak English.
Currently, only 30 percent of third-graders in New York City public schools can read at grade level, according to the department's statistics.
Illiterate parents tend to have lower educational expectations for their children and often place work before education. When parents are uninvolved in their children's education, kids are more likely to display behavioral problems, have poor grades, repeat school years and even discontinue their formal education.
United Nations, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The Social and Economic Impact of Illiteracy: Analytical Model and Pilot Study. By Rodrigo Martínez and Andrés Fernández, Report no. OREALC2010-PI-H-12, Santiago, United Nations, Dec. 2010. Análisis de las consecuencias sociales y eco-nómicas del analfabetismo UNE08-001. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Digital Library.
Low-literate adults are over ten times more likely to receive public financial aid and on average only earn $300 per week, even while working full-time.
Garcia, Valeria. "The problem with illiteracy and how it affects all of us." Reading Partners, 25 July 2017
Fast Facts - Adult Education and Literacy. Literacy New York, Fission Content Management System
More than 80% of jobs are now considered "skilled" meaning they require education and training beyond high school.
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