COVID-19 Update
Like many of you, Reach has spent the last several days determining a path forward during these troubling and uncertain times. Guided by available public health information and the core beliefs we hold dear, we created a four-point plan with the support of our board of directors:
-
All events and group activities are canceled through March 31st, at minimum. This includes our college tour, our scholarship reception, and all planned sessions and outings. During this time, staff will also work remotely. We expect this timeline may be extended as we follow the guidance of the DC government and the CDC.
-
During this mandated break, we will continue to pay all employees, including hourly workers, to provide income certainty when little certainty exists.
-
We will establish a $10,000 emergency fund to address the immediate needs of our tutors, students, and alumni.
-
We will continue to do what we do best, leveraging teens as literacy leaders. We will work to make some of our books available as online read alouds, and we will provide community service hours to teens that use these resources while playing a role in the care of children in their homes and residential communities.
As we take these immediate steps to support the Reach community, we will need your help. We hope to raise $20,000 to fund the organizational needs outlined above. Your support will ensure that we can be there for those who depend on us. Please consider making a donation today.
And, finally, we will find ways to celebrate young people, especially those who have earned Reach Scholarships based on four years of commitment to the organization and the young people we serve. Despite the context, their successes deserve celebration. We will share their stories in the coming weeks.
Thank you for your ongoing support of our work. We hope you’ll follow along as Reach serves as a hub for support, resources, and celebration for the incredible community we serve.
With Love,
Mark Hecker Jusna Perrin Suling Miller
Executive Director Deputy Director - Programs Deputy Director - Development