Campaign for Grade-Level Reading Leader Inspires a Region

More than 300 people participated in "Breakfast with a Visionary" in Sarasota on Friday featuring Ralph Smith, the managing director of the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading and senior vice president of the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

Smith shared the harsh reality and dismal outlook our nation faces if we don't all find the courage as individuals and members of a greater community to ensure all children -- regardless of income -- can read on grade level and are equipped to succeed. Beyond that, the breakfast introduced the very real factors that contribute to students in both Manatee and Sarasota counties who fail to read on grade level -- eye-opening statistics that many were surprised to learn.

The Patterson Foundation, which hosted the breakfast, is an enterprise funder of the campaign and works with the national leadership team as they continue to build this nationwide movement. The Patterson Foundation also provides capacity building opportunities on a national level -- including providing strategy and resources for the campaign to create The Huddle, an online learning community for the 160+ network.

The sold-out event was a demonstration of the passionate people in this region who care about our community's kids, our schools, the volunteers and nonprofits that make a difference and so much more. It also brought Sarasota into the national conversation about reading success.

Here are some insights from the event: