David Mazor

Reader to Reader, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to expanding literacy and learning opportunities for the world's most chronically underserved and vulnerable communities. We accomplish this through innovative literacy programs that leverage community relationships to extend the capacity of the education system and community-based organizations to transform struggling students and at-risk individuals into joyful and engaged lifelong learners. We have helped to channel resources worth over $50,000,000—including computers and over 5,000,000 books—to over 600 under-resourced schools and libraries in the U.S., South America, Eastern Europe, and Africa. Reader to Reader knows that being literate is necessary for everyday living, but we also know that to be a reader is to be empowered—empowered to become a more resilient individual with broader perspectives who can move beyond challenging life circumstances. And we know that this type of empowerment strengthens larger communities. Our programs emphasize the positive power of literacy in every life. We work with those at risk of dropping out of school as well as teen moms and their children. Desiring to inspire others to work in the spirit of Reader to Reader, in 2007 we created a program that introduces college students into the non-profit realm and challenges them to develop and implement their own literacy-promoting projects.