
ARISE2Read takes an active role in the development of children in our public schools through the presence of volunteers focused on literacy. We tutor students one hour per week utilizing a simple sight word approach. We also provide books for the students to enhance literacy.
THERE IS HOPE!
Research reveals that children living in poverty who read proficiently by the end of the third grade have an 89% graduation rate!
Many Thanks to Our Amazing Volunteers!

26
Schools
2021–2022

500
Volunteers
Trained 2021–22

451
Students
Coached 2021–22

20,800
Books
2021–22

30
Community
Partners
Our Challenge
39%
of Memphis children live in poverty and are, on average, THREE grade levels behind their more affluent peers in reading.
66%
of students not reading on grade level by 4th grade will likely be incarcerated or need welfare.
61%
of students in low-income families have NO books in the home.

Our Solution
We train volunteers in a simple sight word approach and pair them with 2nd-grade students in our partner schools.
We provide every 2nd-grader in ARISE2Read partner schools 8 – 10 brand new books each year. In 2022 we provided books for 2,500 students.
Why? Research shows that children living in poverty who are reading on grade level by 3rd-grade have an 89% graduation rate!
Our Results
In 2021-2022, our students gained an average of 311 words or 3-grade levels of growth. Only 13% of our students pre-tested on grade level. Post-test results revealed that 67% of our students were on grade level for a
406% increase
in students reading on sight word grade level.
A comparative analysis of children with similar pre-test scores revealed that 74% of students in the ARISE2Read program post-tested at grade level, compared to 18% of students who were not in the program.

Save a Child. Save a Family. Save a City.

2/3
of students who cannot read proficiently by the end of the fourth grade will likely be incarcerated or need government assistance.

13:1
In middle income neighborhoods the ratio of books per child is 13:1; in low income neighborhoods, the ratio is 1 age-appropriate book for every 300 children.

61%
of low-income families have no books at all in their homes for their children.
Learn How to Get Involved
All it takes is one hour a week to help change a child’s life!