Reading Universe Funders
Reading Universe is made possible by generous support from Jim & Donna Barksdale; the Hastings/Quillin Fund, an advised fund of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation; the AFT; the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation; and three anonymous donors.
Jim & Donna Barksdale
Jim and Donna Barksdale, founding partners of Reading Universe, have made an unwavering commitment to promoting literacy in their home state of Mississippi and across the United States. Through their work with the Barksdale Reading Institute, they were instrumental in sparking the dramatic improvement in reading scores in Mississippi.
By investing in evidence-based programs, professional development for educators, and community outreach, the Institute had a profound impact on the lives of students, teachers, and families throughout the state. The Barksdales' dedication to advancing literacy has set a powerful example for fostering educational equity and empowering children with the tools to succeed in school and in their lives.
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Reed Hastings & Patty Quillin
Reed Hastings, the co-founder and Executive Chairman of Netflix, and Patty Quillin, a film producer and philanthropist, have focused much of their giving on education, including supporting historically Black colleges and universities.
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AFT
The AFT is a union of professionals that champions fairness; democracy; economic opportunity; and high-quality public education, healthcare, and public services for students, their families, and communities.
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Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation
The Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation seeks and funds innovative projects that advance solutions to basic and enduring problems. With an overall emphasis on education, it takes an active role in three major areas: art, environment, and learning differences.
Anonymous Funders
We are grateful for the generous support of three anonymous donors.
Support Reading Universe
Reading Universe is a free online service for teachers, reading coaches, team leaders, tutors, paraprofessionals — anyone who wants to help children learn to read. For now, our content spans kindergarten to second grade, but your donation will help us expand to span preschool through sixth grade. Make a donation to help educators teach reading and writing more effectively in the classroom.
Together We Are …
Offering a free, research-based scope and sequence for teachers, covering every skill needed for effective reading and writing instruction
Filming great teaching and exceptional reading instruction in diverse, multilingual classrooms across the country
Developing thousands of free resources, including decodable texts, that teachers can use in classrooms right away
Reading Universe is made possible by generous support from Jim & Donna Barksdale; the Hastings/Quillin Fund, an advised fund of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation (opens in new window); the AFT (opens in new window); the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation (opens in new window); and three anonymous donors.
