Capital Area Reach Out and Read merged with Reading Is Fundamental of Austin on March 1, 2008, to create a new organization with the working name of RIF Austin & CAROR (until a new name is selected). We have the unique opportunity to reach families at the the very earliest point in their child's development and encourage and support them in taking best advantage of the critical early months and years of brain development.

Last year, both organizations collectively served over 45,500 of the most disadvantaged children in the region. Our mission is to promote early literacy by teaching parents effective ways of sharing books with their children beginning in infancy and delivering free books and literacy resources to those children and families. Our vision is a community in which all children have the opportunity to become literate. While retaining all our current programs, we plan to develop additional models to provide the full continuum of literacy development opportunities for prospective and current partners.

Mindy Gomillion is the Executive Director of RIF Austin / CAROR. Mindy was previously CAROR's Executive Director. Our offices are located at 2006 Greenbrook Parkway, located on the campus of Blanton Elementary School. Our mailing address is P.O. Box 151989, Austin TX 78761. Our new phone number is 512.472.1791. To learn more about the programs of Reading Is Fundamental of Austin, see www.rifaustin.org.

 A Pediatric Early Literacy Program

Reach Out and Read (ROR) is a national non-profit organization that is officially endorsed by The American Academy of Pediatrics, the Texas Pediatric Society, and the Texas Medical Association. It promotes early literacy by giving new books to children and advice to parents about the importance of reading aloud in pediatric exam rooms across the nation. Pediatricians and other clinicians also give prescriptions to parents for reading to their children, particularly between the ages of six months and five years.

Capital Area Reach Out and Read (CAROR) is a non-profit alliance of ROR programs in the Austin area. Our mission is to prevent illiteracy by utilizing healthcare settings and providers to promote early literacy by educating parents about the value of sharing books with the children beginning in infancy.

"When you're caught up in the day-to-day survival game, although you realize literacy is important, purchasing books for your children is not always something you're able to get around to doing - food and shelter and clothing have to be your priorities. But you still have to take them to the doctor."  
 - A ROR parent, Boston MA

"We always look forward to our doctor visits, because it means a new book to take home and share as a family.  Reading these books together has helped us bond even closer."  
- A ROR parent