Better Basics Birmingham Alabama – In 2019-2020, Better Basics served 21,987 students in 35 Central Alabama schools. And, for 2021 – 2022 the organization had 757 volunteers, served 22,000 children and gave away 70,000 books. According to the organization 16% of Alabamians are illiterate, 79% of the state’s kindergartners enter school not knowing all the letters of the alphabet. And, 60% of low-income families there do not have a single children’s book in their homes.
According to the organization children not reading at grade level by third grade, and living in poverty are 13 times more likely NOT to graduate high school. Better Basics was founded over 25 years ago by John Glasser who saw the direct correlation between poverty and illiteracy. The nonprofit makes a positive difference in the lives of its community’s children and their families by advancing reading and mathematical literacy through enrichment and intervention programs.
Its Birmingham Reads program uses hundreds of volunteers to read in Birmingham city schools ‘ pre-kindergarten through 5th grade. The organization just announced that Academic Tutoring for Tots is expanding to new sites in underserved neighborhoods. This means children in Centerpoint, Ensley, and West End will learn from Better Basics’ certified teachers helping to get them kindergarten ready. Your donation allows more little ones to succeed in kindergarten.
And, you can use your social platforms to spread the word about their good work. To learn more, donate and get involved visit https://www.betterbasics.org