What is Reading Makes A Difference™?

  • An award-winning literacy program free to Title I schools
  • Fosters a genuine enthusiasm for reading and a fervent commitment to helping others
  • Each classroom receives
    • Jester Bilingual Book
    • 3 Educator Enrichment Manuals
  • 3 Week Read-A-Thon
  • Prizes for Top Reading Students
  • Donation of Jester Books and Dolls to a Local Hospital
group of kids

This donor-funded program – brought free to Title I schools – builds on the resonance of David Saltzman’s The Jester Has Lost His Jingle. Motivated by our assemblies, students participate in a Read-A-Thon to give Jester books and Jester & Pharley Dolls to ill children in a local hospital. Students are inspired to try harder, read more and think about others – profoundly life-altering experiences. Each classroom receives a copy of The Jester and a set of our three Educator Enrichment Manuals filled with lesson ideas inspired by The Jester that complement reading standards and goals. Schools that successfully complete an RMD program find that building on its momentum with a follow-up program boosts students’ reading achievements even more.

“The Jester and Pharley’s Reading Makes A Difference Read-A-Thon is one of a kind. I love to use David’s story to encourage and motivate our students to read, as well as show kindness to children confined in the hospitals.”

Beth Baccaro, Former Intervention/Prevention Support Coordinator, Bellingham Elementary School, North Hollywood, CA

“As I reflect on the variety of academic and enrichment programs that we have had in Magnolia School District over the last year, the Reading Makes A Difference program has truly been one of the most rewarding and inspiring to students, staff and families in our community. Thank you for the opportunity to bring this unique and impactful program to our schools – you have inspired our students to read and to care for others!”

Hanan Thornton, Former Assistant Superintendent, Educational Services, Magnolia School District

We’d love you to join all the other Title I elementary schools that have boosted student literacy with the Reading Makes A Difference© program!

Applications are received on an on-going basis and program dates are determined based on individual school calendars and available funding.

To apply, you can email amy@thejester.org, call (310) 544-4733, or click the button below.

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