Fall 2011 Gift of Health Report

'Reach Out and Read' Is a Donor-Designated Gift Fund

Mim Edelstein is a lifelong reader. "I don't know how anyone could go through life without reading for pleasure," says Mim, who is a member of two book discussion groups. Mim's sister was an avid reader as well. "The library in town was only open three days a week," she remembers, "and my sister took as many books as she could. When she ran out of books, she'd read the encyclopedia!"

It's natural that Mim would want to share her love of reading, and she's found a way that suits her. For 15 years she has supported the Reach Out and Read program at Northgate Medical Center. The program provides new books to children as part of their annual well-child visit. There's no steady source of funding for the program. Instead, clinic staff, volunteers, and friends pool their resources to buy the books.

Reading is a practical skill — essential to further learning — but there's no limit to the power of the printed word. "To learn to read is to light a fire," said Victor Hugo. "Every syllable that is spelled out is a spark." The Group Health Foundation supports and operates more than 100 funds that benefit Group Health members and our community. Reach Out and Read is one of them. Won't you join Mim and others as they tend the fire?

Mim Edelstein supports our pediatric reading program.