Children’s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia Receives $12,000 Grant from Battelle to Support Summer Literacy Efforts

The Children’s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia (CRFMC) is proud to announce it has received a $12,000 grant from Battelle, which operates Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, WA. This funding will directly support CRFMC’s Read UP! Stop the Summer Slide program—an annual effort to get more than 10,000 books into the hands of children who need them most across Benton and Franklin counties.

Research shows that many students, particularly those without access to books at home, lose valuable reading skills over the summer months. CRFMC’s Read UP! program combats the "summer slide" by distributing books and providing literacy engagement opportunities at community events and outreach locations throughout the region.

“We are incredibly grateful to Battelle for investing in early literacy and helping ensure every child enters school ready to learn and succeed,” said Leanne Luehrs-Purcell, Executive Director of CRFMC. “This support helps us reach families where they are—in parks, food banks, and schools—with free books and bilingual literacy tools.”

CRFMC partners with Mid-Columbia Libraries to host literacy-rich events, and collaborates with community organizations such as St. Vincent de Paul, Tri-City Food Bank, The Boys and Girls Club, local free and reduced summer lunch programs, and many other community partners to reach families in need.
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To learn more about upcoming locations and events—or to support our mission—please visit www.read20minutes.org.