Ahhh, to be a teen-ager again. Pizza joints. The latest blockbuster. Passing time with friends. Hang on a second … kids these days are doing some pretty amazing things — and our friends at Nestlé are honoring 20 impressive teens with incredible stories to tell.

Nestlé’s Very Best In Youth program identifies teens making a profound difference in the lives of others. They’ve founded non-profits, become such consistent volunteers they’re practically staffing their local non-profits, and raised awareness about critical causes in their own backyards.

They’ve done everything from forming youth mentorship clubs, to creating rolling book cart libraries, supporting food banks, engineering energy-efficient school buses, and working with orphaned children.

While their work varies, they’re all superstars in their communities – and they all know schools in their area that could use some help. RIF is proud to be able to help honor these incredible teens with the donation in their name of RIF’s Multicultural Book Collection – developed with the support of our partners at Macy’s and featuring Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Math (or STEAM) themes. Honorees chose need-based schools to receive the 40-book collection.

Like the school in Pensacola, Fla., chosen by honoree Mary-Grace Reeves, a Harvard student who’s working to become a pediatric ophthalmologist. Vision and literacy go hand in hand and Mary-Grace is proof. While she dreams of advancing retinal surgery for children, she’s already founded a youth historical literacy and community service program in the Gulf Coast.

After becoming familiar with RIF through her book donation to Oakcrest Elementary, she’s also hooked on ensuring every child in need has access to the books and resources they need to succeed in school and life.

Thank you, Nestlé, for your strong support of RIF for nearly 20 years, helping hundreds of thousands of low-income children to share the joy of reading!

On Facebook? Be sure to ‘like’ Share the Joy of Reading and Reading Is Fundamental for stories like this and more. 

RIF recently launched an art competition, with the support of Nestlé, called FULL STEAM AHEAD WITH BOOKS, which encouraged students to express how books have fueled their passion for Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics – or STEAM subjects.

Kids from grades K through 5 at RIF programs across the U.S. sent us their artwork, hundreds of entries were submitted.

Check out our Flickr gallery to see the great submissions from our four honorees.

This season, I’ve mustered all my will power and stocked up early.  Why? Because I want to be sure I’m loading up on sweet stuff that’s got a purpose — Nestlé candy specially marked with RIF’s logo.

Look for bags with promo code that can earn RIF .$10, up to $250,000 this year alone. Just visit the website to enter your code.

Nestlé has supported Reading Is Fundamental for years. A fan of our partnership? Be sure to check out Share the Joy of Reading on Facebook, where they’re working to raise  $100,000 for RIF in October alone. Check out their page for (easy!) ways to help.

And please be sure to join me in the trick-or-treat prep by stocking up on Nestlé candy! Baby Ruth anybody? I may even break open a bag before Halloween …

Reading has a profound impact on a child’s ability to succeed in school — and life. Unfortunately, almost half of 3- to 5-year-olds aren’t read to daily. And as children enter school, busy parents may be tempted to stop their nightly read-alouds. But it’s just as important for you to be involved in their reading journey as it is for their teachers.

Through the Nestlé Share the Joy of Reading program, RIF is offering tips for helping parents inspire their kids to be passionate readers:

• Start young. Reading aloud to children at an early age is the most effective way to help them attain critical language and communication skills and instill great habits.
• Take advantage free online tools and resources that help make reading an engaging, shared experience for parents and kids. Check out our activities for more ideas.
• Variety is the spice of life. Be sure your house contains plenty of books to choose from on a variety of topics.
• Launch a children’s book club with other parents. Take turns hosting your children’s friends for snacks and a lively discussion on the book of the month.
• Kids love getting mail. Subscribe to children’s magazines so they’ll have something fun and beneficial to look forward to each month.
• Make sure children have their very own library cards and become frequent patrons at your local library.
• Be it the morning paper or your favorite novel, set a great example by making reading a daily habit for yourself.
• Many literacy programs supporting underserved communities, like RIF, are currently experiencing federal funding cutbacks. Invest in the lives of other children who might not have the same opportunities as your kids. Give to RIF today. Or check out other ways to give. For example, right now, every time you enter a promotion code found inside specially marked packages of Nestlé and Wonka candy at www.CelebrationCorner.com/RIF, Nestlé will donate money to RIF, to fund purchasing books for kids.

Start this school year strong for your child with reading!