The Ramp Up Reading Literacy Program, held in collaboration with Kohls Department Stores and Kohls Cares Volunteers, spans more than 300 stores in 11 states. Kohls employees voluntarily read to children and provide them with books which are contributed by Kids Matter. Annually, over 20,000 books are distributed to children

This summer and back-to-school program allows volunteers to spend time reading aloud to the children and encouraging them to explore the adventures that books can bring. Being able to give each child a book to take home, encourages family literacy at home. We hope that by putting these books into the hands of young children, we will inspire their hearts and minds to grow.

Facts about Literacy in America

1. 1 in 4 children in America grow up without learning how to read.
2. Students who don’t read proficiently by the 3rd grade are 4 times likelier to drop out of school.
3. As of 2011, America was the only free-market OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) country where the current generation was less educated than the previous one.
4. Nearly 85% of the juveniles who face trial in the juvenile court system are functionally illiterate, proving that there is a close relationship between illiteracy and crime. More than 60% of all inmates are functionally illiterate.
5. 75% of Americans who receive food stamps perform at the lowest 2 levels of literacy, and 90% of high school dropouts are on welfare.

Cite Sources

• Write Express Corporation. “Literacy Statistics.” Begin to Read. Accessed February 24, 2015.

• WriteExpress Corporation. “Literacy Statistics.” Begin to Read. Accessed April 16, 2014.

• The Annie E. Casey Foundation. “Students Who Don’t Read Well in Third Grade Are More Likely to Drop Out or Fail to Finish High School.” The Annie E. Casey Foundation. Accessed February 25, 2015.

• Council for Advancement of Adult Literacy. “Reach Higher, America Overcoming Crisis In The U.s. Workforce.” National Commission on Adult Literacy. Accessed April 16, 2014.

• Blankenship, John. “Functional illiteracy continues to grow, but there is help.” The Register-Herald. Accessed April 16, 2014.

• WriteExpress Corporation. “Literacy Statistics.” Begin To Read. Accessed February 24, 2015.