Venable Foundation Annual Report

When John Worden heard of Always Dream through the founder, Olympic figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi, he was drawn to the organization’s focus on early access to books for children in need. “If you get people reading early, they have a much better chance of succeeding,” Worden said. “I grew up in a low-income neighborhood, but had excellent teachers who provided me with a quality education that was integral to my career and success.” Always Dream partners with high-need elementary schools in the San Francisco Bay Area to expand early literacy through access to books in the home and encouraging family support. Funding from the Venable Foundation helps Always Dream provide entire classrooms with tablets, access to a digital library of more than 40,000 books, and the guidance of trained book coaches who support families in building daily reading routines. “Every dollar ensures we can keep this program free for the families who enroll. Partners like the Venable Foundation ensure that we can continue our programming in our community and increase families’ engagement in reading.” Always Dream Aarika Riddle , Executive Director | Always Dream John S. Worden | Partner