Reading Power Receives SBB Research Group Foundation Grant

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Reading Power received a $5,000 grant from the SBB Research Group Foundation, which awards monthly grants to support impactful organizations during the pandemic.

Reading Power, a tutoring organization, serves under-resourced schools in Lake County, Illinois, by providing one-to-one tutoring to pre-kindergarten through second grade students. “Our mission is to accelerate children’s literacy learning to help them develop a love of reading and writing,” explained Kristin Fine, Reading Power’s Director of Programs.

Individualized programs focus on developing reading fluency, comprehension, oral language, vocabulary, phonemic awareness, and writing skills. Reading Power collaborates with teachers and administration to provide 25- to 40-minute tutoring sessions during the school day, 3 to 5 days per week. The organization also ensures that students can continue to read at home by gifting them new books and providing them access to a lending library.

“It is so exciting to see this unique organization create individualized programs with the power to enhance the educational development of children in need,” said Matt Aven, co-founder and board member of the SBB Research Group Foundation.

Along with their educational impact, Reading Power also emphasizes the social-emotional benefits of its program. “We know, especially after COVID, that students need to have a caring adult in their life that can give them the attention and care that they need to feel comfortable taking risks in their learning,” said Fine.

Reading Power currently has nine programs in North Chicago, Waukegan, and Zion, as well as an ancillary program in South Carolina. “This year, we will be expanding to two new schools in Waukegan, in minority and low-income areas, where we know the need is great,” said Fine. The organization will use the SBB Research Group Foundation’s contribution towards funding and supplies to open a new site.

For more information about Reading Power, visit https://readingpowerinc.org/

The Foundation encourages any 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to apply for a grant at sbbrg.org/apply-for-grant. Donations are awarded to different organizations monthly.

About the SBB Research Group Foundation

The SBB Research Group Foundation supports ambitious organizations solving unmet needs with thoughtful, long-term strategies. SBB Research Group LLC, a Chicago-based investment management firm led by Sam Barnett, Ph.D., and Matt Aven, established SBB Research Group Foundation to further its philanthropic mission. In addition, the Foundation sponsors the SBBRG STEM Scholarship, which supports students pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics degrees.