ANNUAL REPORT 2018

Dear Friends,

Thanks to our committed supporters, I am proud to report that Wise Readers to Leaders (WRTL) completed its seventh, spectacular summer of literacy and enrichment serving over 400 scholars from

K-9th grade. We spent six weeks together engaged in a rich literacy-based curriculum

that incorporated the arts, writing projects, and hands-on learning and enrichment activities.

Together we achieved the following:

• Operated four campuses supported by 40 staff

• Our scholars each read 16+ books on average over the summer, more than 8x the amount suggested to prevent the summer slide

• 90 hours of high-quality literacy instruction for each student

• Over 1,200 high-quality books added to our classroom libraries

In 2018, we added a beautiful new site at Wilshire Boulevard Temple, expanding our impact by serving children and families from Los Angeles Elementary School in Korea Town. Our robust middle school program continued to enable scholars to experience life on the American Jewish University campus, where over 70 scholars from 15 middle schools grew together, both academically and socially, through a strong, student-centered literacy curriculum, enrichment activities, team building and field trips.

Our work cannot continue without broad-based financial support. Whether you are a steadfast financial partner and advocate of our work or are considering becoming a funding partner for the first time, we thank you for your investment in the work we do. It is our hope that you will continue your support and spread the word about the life-changing impact we are having on the underserved children in our community. Together we can close the achievement gap for these children and help them enjoy the bright future they deserve.

In partnership, Andrea Sonnenberg CEO and Co-Founder

A letter from our

CEO & Co-Founder

our missionWe help close the achievement gap by transforming the Summer Slide into the Summer Stride!

the needOver the summer, students from low-income communities lose more than two months in reading achievement. Compounded year after year, this “summer slide” is the leading contributor to the achievement gap.

what we do• Provide a free six-week summer literacy, enrichment

and character-building program, including two nutritious meals and a snack each day

• Offer innovative and engaging curriculum ensuring academic gains

• Foster role models with classes taught by college students, aided by trained teen volunteers

• Employ “near-peer” mentoring methods between college students, high schoolers, and scholars served

• Maintain small class sizes with a student to teacher ratio of 12:1

• Expose students to new skills and interests through enriching activities such as gardening, science, cooking, art, math, dance, chess, music, sports and field trips

• Provide middle school students with a unique project-based learning curriculum that incorporates leadership development and service-learning

• Engage parents with free workshops on topics like financial literacy, nutrition and resume writing

• Offer year-round remote reading and mentoring programs and inter-cultural learning and exchanges

how we do itSCHOLARS

• K-8 students attending Title I schools during the year who attend our summer program

PARENTS • Build relationships with parents throughout the summer via

newsletters, phone calls, in person meetings and workshops• Create family events based on literacy and service year-round

LITERACY LEADERS (LL) • College students who serve as summer teachers• Passionate about making a difference in scholars’ lives • Mentorships that encourage scholars to attend college

JUNIOR LITERACY LEADERS (JLL) • High school volunteers who serve as teaching assistants

during the summer• Year-round mentorship through Remote Reading program

• Jewish teens putting Tikkun Olam into practice

MAPLE CENTER COUNSELORS• Provide mental and emotional health services to scholars free of

charge during summer• Connect scholars to year-round services if needed

• Support mentors for middle and high school scholars

96% of parents report seeing

an increase in their child’s

confidence and reading ability

after participating in

Wise Readers to Leaders

90% of our scholars either did not experience

the “summer slide” or advanced their

reading ability after participating in

Wise Readers to Leaders

“ READERS TO LEADERS

HAS HELPED ME IMPROVE

MY READING AND

COMMUNICATION SKILLS…

IT IS MY SECOND HOME.”

—7th Grade Scholar

Teachers, administrators and parents affirm that our students perform better in school after attending this program.

0 100 200 300 400 500

NUMBER OF STUDENTS

YE

AR

2012 50

2013

2014

2015

2018

2020

70

140

225+

400+

450+

Foundations $462,500

Individuals & Families $139,709

Special Events $50,000

Government Grants $10,000

Participation Fees $32,700

In Kind Donations $305,000

Total $999,909

46% Foundations 31% In Kind Donations

14% Individuals and Families 5% Special Events

3% Participation Fees 1% Government Grants

2018 REVENUE

Program $913,026

Fundraising $27,404

Administrative $59,404

Total $999,834

91% program 6% Administrative

3% Fundraising

2018 EXPENSES

TITLE I STUDENTS SERVED

jewish values at workThrough the engagement of 150+ Jewish teens as assistant teachers and mentors, our JLL program benefits the underserved children in our community while at the same time enabling our teens to be engaged in Tikkun Olam in a hands-on and meaningful way.

the impact of the JLL program “Readers to Leaders is something I wish I’d had when I was a child. However, looking through the eyes of the scholars is almost as good as experiencing it myself. The joy they feel everyday is evident on their faces as they sprint off the bus, screaming towards us. It’s magical, being able to make so many people so happy. Many volunteer programs attract teens just trying to get community service hours. What makes Readers to Leaders special is that the teen volunteers are there because we believe in Tikkun Olam” —JLL

“This program is a very rare opportunity for our Jewish Teens to translate the concept of Tikkun Olam into direct action with one consistent group of children, for an extended length of time, in their own Los Angeles community, where they (Teens and Scholars) will very likely be coexisting as adults in the not so distant future. You are making an impact on the kids, the teens and their parents. Thank you for your hard work.” — JLL Parent

Junior Literacy Leader (JLL) Program

TIKKUN OLAM:

THE JEWISH

IMPERATIVE

TO REPAIR THE

WORLD

Remote ReadingIt doesn’t end with summer! Once a week during the school year, a teen and his or her mentee spend half an hour on the phone reading together. This program allows relationships to grow throughout the year while continuing to instill of love of reading in our scholars.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR WONDERFUL JLLs AND FOR THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THEIR FAMILIES Hannah and parent Adeena Fitterman Ellie and parent Ahbra SchiffJessica and parent Alexandra Wald Cameron and Zachary and parents Andrea and Jason Feldmar Alexandra and parents Anessa Karney and Stuart Goldstein Gavin and parent Ann Lieberman Bryce Heitner and parent Betsy Newman Dean and parents Chareen and Drew Kossoff Olivia Mattingly and parent Christina SteinbergJustin and parent Cindy Spitz Alexis and parent David ShapiroKayla and parents Dora and Daniel ManaviJessica and parents Eileen and Ted GaisfordIan and parent Eliot Bieda Molly and parent Elizabeth Morris Adam and parent Emily GlickmanOliver and parents Ezabel and Benjamin Broukhim Michael and parents Farnaz and Robert NemanSloane and parent Gail Jacobs Lauren and parent Hali PomerantzRachel and parents Jacqueline and Stephen Leff Alexa and parent Janine Rostovsky Katherine and parents Jill and Jeffrey Konvitz Juliette and parent Jolie WhitesellKelly Danielpour and parent Joy Musry Ariel, Eden and Miriam and parent Karolin Zoghi Kylie and parents Kelli and David SwartzBen and parent Kim GoldsteinJordyn and parent Kim Mehlman Jessica and parents Lauren and Anton Schiff

Gwendolyn and parent Lindsey Strasberg Samantha and Brandon and parents Lisa and Steve Zwillinger Sami and parents Marcy and Jeff Kaplowitz Sydney and parent Marla Sackler Talia and parents Mazal and Arthur Rubinstein Kate and parents Melissa and Daniel Rozansky Alex and parent Micki Jacobs Sophie and parent Nancy Kaye Daniel and parent Nancy Schulman Joseph and parents Neda and Ben Mehdizadeh Isabella and parent Nicole Hoffman Kyle and parents Pamela and Josh Reims Amber and parent Rachel Steinman Emily and parents Robin and Mark Blau Rachel and parents Ronit and Tamir Wertheim Elizbeth and parents Sara and Ivan BrooksSofi and parent Sherry Peykar Gia and parent Simone Capeluto Adam and parent Stacy Blackman Amanda and parent Stefanie Rosenthal Matthew and parents Susan and Bruce Samuels Max and parents Susan and Saul Smith Julia and parent Susan Edelman Allison and Nikki and parents Suzanne and Dean Weinstock Cate and parent Suzanne Landis Annabel and parent Suzanne Zimmer Lilly Nevo and parent Tara Owens Izzy and parent Traci Massin Joelle and parent Veronica Nessim Asher and parents Wendy and Ronald Schwartz

scholar spotlight“Robbie” arrived at Wise Readers to Leaders reading far below grade level and struggling with attention and behavior problems. In the crowded classrooms of his regular school, his challenges slipped through the cracks unaddressed. Our counselors quickly diagnosed Robbie’s condition and got him the support he needed to successfully immerse himself in our literacy program. His mother and school administrator now report that he’s in the top reading group of his class.

“Wise Readers to Leaders allows you to feel free around good people. You feel safe to do stuff and just have a chance to tell people who you are without being shy. [...] If you tell a Literacy Leader or Junior Literacy Leader something, they will help you with the problem. Readers to Leaders is like a diary or journal that you can keep secrets with” —Scholar

“From the smiles you put on their faces, to the knowledge they soak up and to the determination of endless hard work everyone has put in to making all dreams possible, we have you guys to thank.”

—Scholar Parent

“The program was a huge success and its impact was significant. [...] Students returned to Stanley Mosk this fall, not only as stronger readers, but with their heads held a little higher and with a very positive attitude toward learning. The Stanley Mosk school family feels fortunate to have been paired up with this incredible program. It is our hope that the program will continue to grow and expand to more venues in LAUSD schools around the city.”

—Principal, Stanley Mosk Elementary School

“That’s what I notice, that every time they go to [Wise Readers to Leaders], is that there is no word “no,” that I cannot do it. Yes I can.” —Scholar Parent

We are deeply grateful to all our donors. If we missed you, please call 310.889.2251 so we can fix our mistake!

$250,000 and aboveAndrea and Barry Cayton

$100,000-249,000Andrea and Glenn Sonnenberg

$50,000-99,999The Ahmanson FoundationThe Jewish Community Foundation

$25,000-$49,999Jodie and Steven FishmanJewish Federation of LAStephanie and Howard SherwoodDwight Stuart Youth Fund

$10,000-$24,999Anonymous Lynn and Les BiderSupervisor Sheila KuehlMelanie and Bryan ScherSherwood Family Foundation Deanie and Jay Stein

$5,000-$9,999Pam BenettJacob Best FoundationDiane and Ken Bishop Carol and James Collins FoundationSteve FogelGretchen and Jonathan KleinRoss PollackKim and Darryl Schall

$1000-$4,999Beverly Hills Rotary Club Community Foundation Dahlia and Arthur BilgerNicole BrooksLauren and Bowen CampbellElla Fitzgerald Charitable FoundationSusan EdelmanBeth FreemanRodney Freeman Julie GadinskyMerribeth and Kenneth GalLisa and Adam GlickGold Family Foundation Carolyn and Ron GreitzerCathy HessionSuzanne and David JohnsonRoneet and Ken KahanDeborah and Ivan KallickMitch KaminJason KernTammy KlausnerSteven KleinAlison and Chet Kronenberg

Beth Becker and David LashJohn LaVioletteRochelle MaizeJoan and Sid MarantzHeidi and Jon MonkarshBetsy NewmanMarjorie NielsenJodi and Greg PerlmanLisa and Dan PlattJeff Polak Heidi and Albert PrawJodi Kruger and Jeremy Rosen Karen Richards and David A. SachsEllen and Richard SandlerWendy and Ron SchwartzChip SellersMichael SfregolaDiane Shader SmithDavid ShapiroStacy and Jesse SharfSusan and Michael ShoreBecky and Ron SternJulie and Peter WeilGayle WeissKaren and Edward WeissFelice and Douglas WilliamsKaren and Rick WolfenBeverly and David WoznicaJacqueline Hantgan and Yoshi Zweiback

$500-$999Lauren BaharDaniel Ben AriSondra and Robert BlauCarol and Jerome CobenLisa and Jeffrey CohenMarni EshelJennifer FineMarcie and Cliff GoldsteinCatherine GreeneBeverly GruberStephanie and Jeff JacobsJodi and Rick KirkbrideOlivia LaVioletteDebra and Moshe MeppenEdward NahmiasJacob OffenbergerJill and Mark PanSuzanne RobinsonMillie Riff and Joseph SchechterSaul SmithKatz Family

$250-$499Teri and John BaileyRobin DeighanEva DworskyCheryl and Michael GlynnKaren HarwittCarol and Ed Horowitz

Adeena KarsseboomElizabeth KrojanskyBarbara and Bobby MargolisGail PillGeorgina RothenbergDonna SchlesselLauren SonnenbergKaren SternLaura StovitzCarrie SweetnamAli Strocker and Andrew Tennenbaum

Up to $249David AbramsCaren AdlerJoyce and Kevin AndersonLeah Andreone and Mark DrooksPaul AnsteyRebecca AringtonJames BalassoneRozita BamshadCynthia and Neal BasemanBeth and Bryan BeharSusan and Jon BergerPatricia BestNancy BillinAbby BlachmanStacy BlackmanAllison BragardJames BranchAnne Bruner and James BremnerClaudia and Bill BrownLinda and Steven BrownMarc BrownLinda CamrasLisa and Joel CasselNancy CastillaSandra ChorchesWendy Prober-Cohen and David CohenJ.D. Crouch IIMark DalhausserPeal and Cori DiamondMatthew DiamondDennis DiamondSheryl EinzigerKaren and Allan EntousBarbara FriedrichPaula and Jack FrostAmy GershoonyRochelle GinsburgRuhama GoldmanKim GoldsteinDana and Lee GordonLouise GreenbergJulia HammondKatie and Phillip HolthouseJodi HarrisonBrian HarwittConnie Hershelman

Pamela HerskovitzAmy HochmanLisa and Bruce HoffmanLeila JavaheriLarissa and Scott KleinWendy and Joseph KleinSarina and Jeff KlemesJill KonvitzLaurence KornAllison KorreyJoyce and Paul KrasnowSusan Fine and Howard KrollDonna LarmeeBeverly LashusSara and Daniel LeonNancy and Barry LevyMarjorie LewisJill LinhardtLionela and Jason LittPablo Luna CordovaElaine MaltzmanEric MattsonEllen and Gary MichelLisa MirmanSheila MonroeKarmi and Harold MonsherYvette MurrayCynthia and Michael PerskyLinda PonyMelanie and Frank PoturicaCheryl and Joel PrellJeremy RagentHarrison ReinischBrandy RickardNurit RobinPeggy RobinMarla SacklerKaren SandlerCorrine and Lenny SandsElaine SchenirerJames ScherlisMaria and Oscar SchneiderMelissa SchneiderEllen and Robert SessaMartine SingerLanna SolnitJake SonnenbergLindsey StrasbergNancy SunkinAmelia SuperHannah TizabgarPamela TuckerLori and Leandro TybergJackson UsherHayley WeinbergShelby WeissSharie WessendorfJolie and John WhitesellCindy WinebaumElana ZimmermanCindy Zoller

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS DONORS

STAFF LEADERSHIP TEAMAndrea Sonnenberg CEO and Co-Founder

Rabbi Ron Stern Teen Advisor and Co-Founder

Melissa Schneider Program Manager

Riley Runburg Program Manager

2018 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Andrea Sonnenberg (Chair) CEO and Co-Founder of Wise Readers to Leaders

Glenn Sonnenberg (Treasurer) President La Salle Mortgage Real Estate Investors

Jeremy Rosen (Board Secretary) Partner at Horvitz & Levy, LLP

Laurie Bahar President Sherwood Family Foundation

Nicole Brooks PsyD, Private Practitioner in Clinical Psychology

Lauren Campbell Marketing Consultant

Andrea Cayton Director Goldrich Family Foundation

Steven J. Fishman CPA and Partner at Fishman, Block and Diamond

Wendy Schwartz Cuff Homes, Community Volunteer

Martine Singer President and CEO of the Children’s Institute

Rabbi Ron Stern Rabbi at Stephen Wise Temple, Director of the Center for Tikkun Olam

Karen Weiss KW Interiors, Community Volunteer

SAVE THE DATE

2019 Annual Celebration & Documentary Screening

APRIL 28, 2019 STEPHEN WISE TEMPLE

LAUSD schools represented

22

Teen volunteers

150+

Meals served to scholars

23K+

Books read

76K+

Hours of peer mentorship

11K+

Read Aloud Guests

100

Scholars

400

Books sent home with scholars

2K+

College and graduate student

staff members

40

our annual

impact

Scholar families served

200+

Hours of enrichment

activities

290

15500 Stephen S. Wise Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90077

SAVE THE DATE

Annual Celebration

4/28/19

www.wisereaderstoleaders.orgwisereaderstoleaders@wisela.org310.889.2254

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