Adult illiteracy is an enormous problem in the United States – particularly in states highly impacted by immigrants such as California. Each year thousands of children enter the state’s elementary schools from homes where English is seldom spoken. In the South Bay community served by RSVP, more than 80 different languages are spoken.

America Reads is an agenda for children tomorrow. Its goal is to ensure that children from limited-English speaking households progress to becoming proficient readers by the end of third grade.

America Reads began in 1992 as the “Special Friends” program when volunteers were placed in elementary schools to work one on one or in small groups with students in the Torrance, Unified School District, Redondo Beach School District and Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach School Districts. Today, tutors provide approximately 4,000 hours of services annually. In addition to school-based education programs, volunteers support programs at the Western Museum of Flight, the South Bay Literacy Council, Madrona Marsh and the South Bay Botanical Gardens.