In August, Reading Quest became the second recipient of the Sony Create Action grant. The grant program aims to provide a long-lasting impact for local organizations and the communities they serve along with collaboration opportunities and marketing support. As Create Action grant recipients, Reading Quest receive $50,000 in cash to continue and expand the organization's work, this Sony-produced short film telling their story and $50,000 in Sony Electronics products to support their action plan.
Based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Reading Quest provides structured literacy tutoring to the youth of the Santa Fe community. "It's our job to take in kids who are reading below grade level and help them feel better in school and better about reading in general," says reading specialist Avery Armstrong.
The organization wants to integrate a passion for reading in these kids that will truly make a difference in their lives. The literacy tutoring programs that are offered can be catered to the individual and in group settings. Braulio, Reading Quest alumni explains, "Reading Quest changed my life by getting me into a state of mind that nothing is impossible, ever impossible."
One of the ways they engage with the kids of the community is through a program called Reading is Magic as well as a number of summer camps that provide immersive experiences that encourage the kids to have fun. "We are as much as possible gamifying what we do. So we have original board games, we have games that we have adapted into reading games by using our own word cards," says Rayna Dineen, executive director.
To learn more about Reading Quest and what they do for their community, head over to readingquestcenter.org.
The Create Action Grant Program is open through March 29, 2022 and will provide grants to 10 organizations total, with one new grant awarded each month. After initial submission, each application will be within consideration throughout the entirety of the program. Learn more and see how your organization can apply at alphauniverse.com/createaction.
