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About Us

Overview

Reading Partners is dedicated to transforming struggling young readers into confident readers who are excited about learning.

How we do it:

  • Focus on children from low-income communities.

  • Give one-on-one instruction at the student’s reading level.

  • Recruit and train community volunteers to work with children.

  • Partner with high-need elementary schools to offer an effective program on campus.

  • Provide a way for volunteers to give a small amount of their time to make a huge difference in a child’s life.

   

Vision/Mission

VISION

All children in this nation will have the reading skills they need to reach their full potential.


MISSION

Help children become lifelong readers by empowering communities to provide individualized instruction with measurable results.


CORE VALUES

Innovation
Collaboration
High Expectations
Continuous Learning
Service
High Quality

   

History & Growth

Reading Partners was founded by three community leaders committed to improving children's literacy and life opportunities. In 1999, Mary Wright Shaw, Molly McCrory and Jean Bacigalupi launched the program at Belle Haven Elementary School in Menlo Park.  Reading Partners would not exist today without the founders' vision, passion and talent to mobilize a community.

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Board

Stephanie Cohen
Vice-Chair

Stephanie is Managing Director at Goldman Sachs and a senior member of the Industrial Department and the Merger Leadership Group in the Investment Banking Division (IBD). In 2008, she managed Conflicts and Business Selection for IBD in the Americas. Prior to that, she was a vice president from 2004 to 2007 in the Industrial Department and Merger Leadership Group in San Francisco. Earlier in her career, Stephanie worked in New York in the Mergers and Acquisitions Department.

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National Staff

Management Team:

MICHAEL LOMBARDO
Chief Executive Officer

Michael came to Reading Partners in 2006 after five years in senior administrative positions at the University of California, Berkeley, including Director of Development and College Relations for the College of Letters and Science and Director of Scholarships for the Alumni Association.

During his tenure as CEO, Michael has transformed Reading Partners from a small local organization working with just 6 schools in Silicon Valley to the national leader in its field. Reading Partners has grown to serve over 60 schools in 3 states, with its total operating budget expanding from $500,000 in 2006 to over $8,000,000 in 2011. Michael recently led Reading Partners through a highly competitive Social Innovation Fund process administered by the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, resulting in Reading Partners being selected for a $7,000,000 growth capital investment--one of only 9 grants made among 225 applicants.

Michael has a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and attended the Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. He lives in Berkeley with his wife and two young children, one of whom proudly attends a public elementary school.


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Supporters

Many thanks to the individuals, foundations, and corporations who make Reading Partners possible.

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In-Kind Supporters

Many thanks to the individuals, foundations, and corporations who make Reading Partners possible.

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Financials

Reading Partners is an officially registered 501(c)(3) organization as recognized by the IRS.

Federal Tax ID Number: 77-0568469

 

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FAQs

Click on the following links to learn more:

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