Photo provided by Ascend at the Aspen Institute.

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County Board, its staff and donors are delighted to be the Sarasota Lead for the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, by approaching grade-level reading (GLR) efforts through a two-generation lens. "We don’t focus solely on the child or the parent, rather on a continuum of support for both children and parents together with the goal of harnessing a family’s full potential," says Kirsten Russell, Director of Community Investment for CFSC. 

Sarasota is particularly fortunate of the many sectors of our community committed to a holistic approach to GLR. Improving educational outcomes for children and their parents is the best way to elevate families out of poverty. Ascend at the Aspen Institute for instance, provides creative opportunities for families living in poverty, while helping people envision a country that provides a legacy of economic security and educational success that passes from one generation to the next.

"The Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading movement is a marathon, not a sprint. These are our kids. Our community. Our collective future. The only thing worse than these families giving up, is us giving up on them," notes Russell. "Together we harness the potential to close the opportunity gap—one child and one family at a time."

Photo provided by Ascend at the Aspen Institute.

The Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading