SAN DIEGO, California (January 21, 2021) – San Diego nonprofit Words Alive has received a $150,000 donation from an anonymous philanthropist to support efforts to connect children, teens, and families to the power of reading.

Words Alive Executive Director Rachael Orose says funds will support Words Alive’s ongoing response to the devastating educational impacts on the children, teens, and families stemming from the pandemic.

“As everything closed last March, we pivoted to a virtual platform for our programs because we knew the power of reading could help families cope with all of the changes resulting from the pandemic. I am humbled by the outpouring of support from the San Diego community that has allowed us to sustain this life-changing work, and am struck speechless by this incredibly generous gift,” said Orose.

At the start of the pandemic, Words Alive transitioned two decades of proven classroom-based literacy programming to be delivered remotely while schools remain closed. Mobilizing more than 1,000 global volunteers, the organization has empowered tens of thousands of educators and parents with virtual content to use the power of reading and writing to help families contend with the pandemic. In addition to supporting teachers, the organization has given away more than 20,000 books and educational resources, and their free, online content for children and teens has been accessed more than 250,000 times.

“Now, more than ever, reading is a skillset for survival. This astounding gift enables us to continue to prioritize literacy and the critical role it plays in helping youth and families cope with, and emerge stronger from, the pandemic,” Orose says.

Founded in 1999, Words Alive connects children, teens, and families with the power of reading. Words Alive provides access to relevant and quality books, shared reading experiences, and a connection to reading that lays the foundation for continued success. Their efforts were recently applauded in a Publishers Weekly feature on the organization: https://bit.ly/3igm0mg

To learn more about Words Alive visit: www.WordsAlive.org.