Thirty-seven percent of all fourth grade children in the United States are functionally illiterate. The home environment - specifically the availability of reading material - is a stronger predictor of later academic achievement than socioeconomic status. On average, children in economically depressed communities have 0-2 age appropriate books in their homes.Several years ago, our own Kay Bryant identified a need in the Spokane Valley to help the literary effort in the elementary schools to encourage students to read. She convinced our Rotary Club's Charitable Trust Board to take on the project. Many  students did not have books of their own and their parents didn't have the money to purchase books for them. 

The Valley Rotary Charitable Association is looking for organizations in need of grant money to fund work for senior citizens of the Spokane Valley area.