The Northpine Foundation announced a $550,000 investment in The Reading Partnership (TRP), an organization dedicated to improving literacy outcomes for children in Scarborough communities.

Scarborough has some of the highest rates of students not reading at grade level, which could contribute to negative societal outcomes. TRP is addressing this issue through Reading Partnership for Parents, a learning series that has helped over 500 parents and caregivers teach their children ages 4-6 to read. Families have 3 options for participation: in-person, online, or through R-POD (Reading Program on Demand), a digital, on-demand format that allows families to participate on their own time and at their own pace. All participating families receive a ‘Lit Kit’ that includes cards and games for practicing letter names/sounds and words, and 21 illustrated ‘Tiny Tales’ decodable books that feature colourful illustrations, big bold text and a range of diverse characters and exciting tales.

Reading Partnership for Parents has enhanced learning for Scarborough families for over 10 years, and TRP will use the investment from the Northpine Foundation to explore partnerships, program refinements and other strategies for scaling and sustaining the impact of the program, in order to make a positive shift in addressing low literacy trends in Scarborough.

“The Reading Partnership’s decade-long dedication to early literacy initiatives in Scarborough perfectly aligns with our goal of supporting organizations bringing positive impact to historically underserved communities,” said Naomi Gichungu, Impact Director – Scarborough of the Northpine Foundation. “We are delighted to back their growth and evolution, as they persist in empowering and uplifting individuals, families, and the entire Scarborough community through their invaluable work in literacy and education.”

“All families deserve access to quality programs needed to support their children’s early literacy journeys,” said Camesha Cox, Executive Director, The Reading Partnership. “We’re excited to be supported by the Northpine Foundation as we begin scaling what we know works. This generous investment will give us the time, space, and resources needed to develop and implement a successful strategy for sustainably scaling Reading Partnership for Parents.”

Northpine is proud to support TRP’s mission to enhance early literacy and improve outcomes for children and families in Scarborough. We believe that investing in early literacy programs is a key way to support thriving communities across Canada.

Learn more about The Reading Partnership’s work here and see the Northpine Foundation’s investments in Scarborough here.