Reading is Fundamental (RIF)

 
Since 1975, dedicated JA members have partnered with local schools to provide high-quality, age-appropriate reading materials to children in Lauderdale County at no cost to the child. Over the years, this project has evolved to better meet the needs of our community’s children while adhering to changing safety protocols and school/district policies.

During the Fall 2024 semester, RIF served 900 children across 18 unique read-aloud visits to second-grade and other elementary-aged classrooms in the Lauderdale County and Meridian Public School Districts. Approximately 400 children and families were also reached at 11 community-based events. 

As one of Junior Auxiliary of Meridian’s longest-standing projects, JA of Meridian members have been reading to local elementary students across Lauderdale County Public Schools and Meridian Public Schools for over 40 years. With funding provided by the Phil Hardin Foundation and donations from our generous sponsors, JA of Meridian supports the importance of literacy, child development, and learning through book distributions and community events that promote reading and literacy. 

Between May 1, 2024, and February 1, 2025, JA of Meridian distributed 5,650 books. The continued support of the Phil Hardin Foundation enables us to meet literacy needs in our community—where readers truly become future leaders.

The recent national recognition of Mississippi’s educational gains in reading is worthy to note. The NAEP (commonly referred to as the Nation’s Report Card) assesses student performance in fourth- and eighth-grade reading and math across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., every two years. Notably, Mississippi's fourth graders continue to excel nationally in reading, with 32% scoring proficient or advanced—above the national rate of 30%. RIF’s focus on literacy, child development, and learning aligns with this positive trend, underscoring the meaningful impact of this service project.