Thu, March 28, 2024

Nonprofit helps students rise through reading programs

Each year, a local non-profit organization hosts book fairs that provide thousands of free books to children in high-need schools, thanks to help from local businesses.

RISE Augusta, one of five nonprofits housed in the new HUB for Community Innovation located at 631 Chafee Ave. in downtown Augusta, receives book donations from several bookstores, such as The Book Tavern and 2nd & Charles, according to its Executive Director, Laurie Cook.

“A lot of kids don’t have books at home,” Cook said.

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She said RISE primarily focuses on improving literacy skills in students in kindergarten through third grade, many of whom live in poverty. Their goal is to break that cycle of poverty.

The nonprofit provides full-time, in-school tutoring and support for students in three Richmond County elementary schools: Lamar-Milledge, W.S. Hornsby, and Lake Forest Hills. Most of the students they work with don’t have learning disabilities.

“Teachers refer kids to us,” Cook said. “We feel like we’re a resource for the teachers. These children are very bright; they didn’t get the support they needed.”

Local businesses partner with RISE Augusta by volunteering and making donations of books.

In a large class with students of various reading levels, it’s nearly impossible for teachers to spend one-on-one time with each child. To assess students’ improvement, RISE looks at school data, which shows the tutoring program has been very successful.

The nonprofit also works with school counselors to provide wrap-around support services, such as food, eyeglasses, and other needs these students have.

The organization also offers after-school tutoring at the HUB for Pre-K through fifth grade students. She currently has a 21-member staff, most of whom are retired teachers.

“We’re able to do training and special events here,” Cook said. “We don’t need a huge space.”

RISE has also begun another initiative, STRIVE, which helps students at RPM, a partnership between the Richmond County School System and E-Z-GO. Students earn both academic credit and a paycheck by participating in the program.

The nonprofit has begun teaching these students soft skills, such as communication and time management. After graduating from high school, E-Z-GO offers some students full-time jobs. For those who don’t receive these offers, RISE will send them through certification programs at Goodwill, Augusta Technical College, or the Salvation Army.

RISE Augusta believes literacy is the key to education and education is vital to breaking out of a cycle of poverty.

“A lot of businesses are interested because they’re having trouble finding people,” she said.

Cook said the organization works closely with the other HUB partners, including Augusta Locally Grown, which supports local farmers by providing fresh, nutritious food to people throughout the CSRA.

RISE Augusta, which has been active in the CSRA since 1996, strives to provide local students with the resources they need to become successful readers and learners.

“Our whole goal is to support schools,” Cook said.

For more information, visit https://riseaugusta.org/.

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