Wisconsin - Reach Out and Read

Reach Out and Read Wisconsin

More than just books, Reach Out and Read Wisconsin uses trusted medical professionals to support parents and encourage healthy child development.

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Reach Out and Read Wisconsin Receives $45,000 Grant

The grant will fund a diverse book initiative called Mirrors & Windows. It will deepen the dialogue with clinic staff about the importance of diverse books that both reflect children's lives and offer windows into the experience of other people.

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Impact

With 293 participating sites in medical clinics across Wisconsin, we provide more than 146,300 children and their families in 58 counties with books and resources to empower parents as their child’s first and best teacher.

Reach Out and Read is a two generation intervention built and backed by science and a growing body of academic research. We utilize the existing medical infrastructure to encourage supportive, educational conversations with parents on the importance of reading aloud and the impact on a child’s brain development.

Read our latest impact report.

Our Program

The first three years of a child's life are critical. By promoting reading aloud and positive daily child-caregiver interactions, Reach Out and Read Wisconsin helps ensure that every child has the healthy foundation they need - cognitively, socially and emotionally.

> See Our Program

146,300
children served

291
program sites

260,000
books distributed

Give the gift of Reach Out and Read to a Wisconsin family today.

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“I would rather walk into a child’s regular checkup without my stethoscope than without a book.”

Dipesh Navsaria, MPH, MSLIS, MD
Reach Out and Read Medical Director, Wisconsin

THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIPS

Reach Out and Read Wisconsin is supported by trusted pediatricians, residents and medical providers across the state who give their time, talents and expertise to help support parents in preparing their children for success in school and in life.

Corporate, Foundation and Government Support

Croen Foundation

Hugh J. Anderson Foundation

Otto Bremer Trust

Roots & Wings Foundation

State of Wisconsin

TJX Foundation

U.S. Venture

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Health System Partners

Children’s Wisconsin

UW American Family Children’s Hospital

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Individual Donors $500 +

Dr. Molly Cousins

Jessica and James Doyle

Dan Fallon and Mary Morgan

Aaron Frank

Julie Hayward

Dr. Susanne Krasovich

Ms. Rhona Mahony and Dr. Jeremy Bulow

Barbara and Henry Nehls-Lowe

Dipesh Navsaria

Jonathan Wertz

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Individual Donors $250 – $499

Sarah Barton

Michele and John Erikson

Linda Leonhart

Madison Monona Lioness Club

Dr. Wendy Molaska and Mr. Keith McClelland

Dr. Rajiv Naik

Dr. Zobra and Ms. Penelope Paster

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Book Buddies (monthly donors)

Maureen and Charles Adams

Anonymous

Matt Crespin

Caitlin Fahy

Linda Haney

Justin Jabs

Ms. Karin Mahony and Dr. Adam Balin

Anthony Sturm

Cori Thiermann

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In-Kind Support

All About Books

Interstate Books4School

Pampers

Scholastic, Inc.

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Strategic Partnerships

Cooperative Children’s Book Center

Raising Wisconsin

Reach Out and Read Partners – Fox Cities

Reach Out and Read Partners – Manitowoc County

United Way of Greater Chippewa Valley

Wisconsin Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics

Wisconsin Department of Children and Families

Wisconsin Literacy, Inc.

Wisconsin Public Library System

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Advisory Council

Sarah Barton, Acelero Learning

Ann Cooksey, Appleton Public Library

Molly Cousin, MD, Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers

Jessica Doyle, Retired educator, Former First Lady of Wisconsin

David Gerhard, MD, Gundersen Health System

Ashleigh Henrichs, Wisconsin Literacy

Jen Jackson, Business Growth Consultant

Susanne Krasovich, MD, ProHealth Care

Linda Leonhart, MS, ABD, Retired, Former State Collaboration Director, Head Start Consultant, WI Department of Public Instruction

Wendy Molaska, MD, FAAFP, Dedicated Family Care

Mary Morgan, Reading Group Choices

Colleen Murphy, PhD, Community Early Childhood Systems Building Start Early

Tessa Michaelson Schmidt, Children’s Cooperative Book Center

Heide Piehler, Retired Youth Services Librarian, Shorewood Public Library

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In addition to our medical community, we are extremely grateful to our state, community, foundation partners and individuals that help us reach more children each year.

Aspirus Pediatrics Team Encourages Reading with Little Ones

November 8, 2023

(Aspirus Health) The pediatrics team at Aspirus Plover Hospital & Clinic is passionate about the benefits of reading to infants and children. “The families we care for trust us to guide them on all aspects of their child’s health and development,” said Jolyne Check-Ostrowski APNP, a pediatric nurse practitioner at Aspirus Plover Clinic. “That’s why we incorporate […]

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