HISTORY

The Roaring Fork Valley Early Learning Fund, a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization, was created to benefit its signature early childhood literacy “take home” bookbag program, Raising A Reader. It was founded in 2004 by Jayne Poss with the lead financial support of Jackie and Mike Bezos of the Bezos Family Foundation and encouragement from highly respected and dedicated valley wide early childhood educators.  Starting in 2004 with 372 children in 26 preschool classrooms, The Roaring Fork Valley Early Learning Fund has stayed focused on its mission. Now in its fifth year Raising A Reader is reaching 1,500 preschool children in 90 classrooms in the 10 rural communities of Pitkin, Eagle and Garfield counties.

Understanding there was no presence of an early childhood literacy intervention program of this depth and methodology in our valley, these early childhood educators confirmed that a critical need existed for a powerful, proven, result based early childhood literacy program that targeted disadvantaged families with children age birth to five years. They also confirmed that the childcare providers in our valley did not have the resources to offer a program to their families as significant as Raising A Reader. 

So began the creative and visionary collaboration of funding partners, educators, childcare providers and libraries who believed that building early literacy skills during crucial preschool years will have not only a positive impact on the academic lives of our children  but a long term positive return on the social, educational and economic vitality of our valley.