About Us
The Family Reading Partnership is a non-profit community organization that promotes early literacy.
Family Reading Partnership provides a variety of programs geared towards families with infants and young children in Tompkins County, NY. We are focused on providing abundant access to children’s books for all community members, building home libraries, and encouraging frequent interaction between young children and their caregivers, as they are all important precursors to literacy.
Only 39% of parents nationally read to their children on a regular basis. In our own community, it is estimated that an alarming 20 – 25% of children enter a classroom for the first time having had few or no experiences with books at home.
We believe in the power of prevention. FRP focuses on parents and caregivers from the time that they are expecting until the child turns 5 years old to ensure they build the pre-literacy skills needed to learn to read in elementary school. Families are struggling to keep up with the demands of daily life. Many caregivers arrive at parenting with their own unaddressed educational trauma and resulting aversion to school environments and traditional academic learning. Our programs are designed to meet them where they are and support the caregiver/child bond that is the basis for all future development.
Our programs rely on a vast network of partners and collaborators who help to distribute materials and identify areas of need in the community. We strive to incorporate family reading awareness, encouragement and books into networks and services that already touch the lives of families.
Mission, Vision, and Principles
Since our founding in 1997 we have gained knowledge and developed an understanding about our work that has given shape to the following principles that guide us in carrying out our mission.
Our Staff
The dedicated staff of the Family Reading Partnership works hard to provide opportunities for families to “Make Friends with Books!”
Our Board of Directors
Meet our Board Members!
Our Community Partners
A core belief of the Family Reading Partnership is to use the networks already in place in our community to connect people with books. Our partners are essential for our success. We appreciate everyone who has been involved in our efforts.
Family Reading Partnership Founder
Founder Brigid Hubberman created Family Reading Partnership in 1997. Her dedication to creating a culture of literacy was the spark that started our organization and continues to inspire us and shape our work.
Our Impact
Our many programs have given children books to own and families encouragement to read. As told in the anecdotes of parents, teachers, social worker and other professionals, here are some of our stories.
The “Power of Words”
These articles, originally published in the Ithaca Journal, tell about the amazing impact books and stories had in the lives of these guest columnists.