Philadelphia, PA 19103-1189
(215) 567-7710
FAX (215) 567-7850
Contact: Communications and Development
READ! by 4th ANNOUNCES FIRST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
READ! by 4th is pleased to announce that it has appointed Jenny Bogoni as its first Executive Director. READ! by 4th is a citywide effort of 50 organizations—public and private, large and small—that is convened and managed by the Free Library and aims to substantially increase the number of students in Philadelphia entering the 4th grade at reading level by 2020. Ms. Bogoni comes to Read! by 4th having most recently managed a consulting practice where she provided strategic capacity and coaching support for backbone organizations leading collective impact initiatives.
At its core, READ! by 4th is tackling the literacy crisis in our city: More than half of all Philadelphia public school students cannot read at grade level by fourth grade. READ! by 4th’s comprehensive strategy includes improving early learning, providing parents with resources to teach their children reading skills, emphasizing summer reading and other strategies to prevent learning loss, decreasing absenteeism by addressing behavioral and health concerns, and enhancing reading instruction in schools.
“The Read! by 4th initiative is an important part of Philadelphia’s commitment to quality education and literacy for all students,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “I welcome Ms. Bogoni as its first Executive Director and look forward to seeing her vision for the campaign unfold. I am confident that her professional experience will help her in this important work.”
Prior to launching her consulting practice, Ms. Bogoni was the Founding Executive Director of the Spark Program in Philadelphia, which worked with several schools in north and west Philadelphia preparing students for success in high school and reducing the City’s dropout rate. She was also the Vice President of Leadership and Learning at Philadelphia Youth Network and the Executive Director of ASAP/After School Activities Partnership, among many leadership roles. A former Peace Corps member, Ms. Bogoni was recognized as one of Philadelphia Business Journal’s “40 under 40” city leaders, and she was recognized as a national leader at the White House Summit on Disconnected Youth.
“We’re extremely pleased to welcome Jenny Bogoni as the new Executive Director of READ! by 4th,” said Siobhan A. Reardon, President and Director of the Free Library of Philadelphia. “Her extensive experience and commitment to the goals of READ! by 4th will be an incredible asset as we move forward with this critical initiative to significantly improve the literacy skills of Philadelphia’s school children.”
This crucial initiative that is uniting our city to tackle the fundamental issue of childhood literacy is made possible only with private support raised by the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation. To date, $2 million in support of READ! by 4th has been raised through generous gifts from the William Penn Foundation, The Lenfest Foundation, United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, Wells Fargo, the Lincoln Financial Foundation, the Samuel S. Fels Fund, the Eagles Youth Partnership, and The Douty Foundation. In addition, the City of Philadelphia has contributed $1 million in support of READ! by 4th programming. For more information, visit freelibrary.org/readby4th.
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The 61-location Free Library of Philadelphia system advances literacy, guides learning, and inspires curiosity with millions of digital and physical materials; 25,000 yearly programs and workshops; free public computers and extensive Wi-Fi; and rich special collections, including those at Parkway Central Library and at The Rosenbach of the Free Library of Philadelphia. With more than 6 million in-person visitors and millions more online visits annually, the Free Library and the Rosenbach are among the most widely used educational and cultural institutions in Philadelphia and boast a worldwide impact.
07/08/2015
Department of External Affairs, Free Library of Philadelphia, 1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1189
(215) 567-7710, FAX (215) 567-7850