Reach Out and Read-Alabama

5️⃣ days left to order your Tshirt or sweatshirt --don't miss out on this limited edition apparel to celebrate 20 years of reading and a lifetime of impact. Order yours today!

Celebrate Our 20th Anniversary with Exclusive Apparel!

To commemorate our 20th anniversary in 2026, we are thrilled to present our supporters with specially designed sweatshirts and T-shirts that promote our program and celebrate the joy of reading.

The group order will be available until August 17, so don’t miss your chance to place your order today at https://tinyurl.com/da9h6u5w.

Continue what you learned this summer during Rx for Summer Reading with Lola Plants a Garden 🌸

Join our friends at Alabama Farm to Early Care and Education and garden educator, Bionca Lindsey -- both who attended the The Gift of Life Foundation and Baptist Health - Central Alabama Montgomery Family Medicine Residency Program Rx events in July -- for an upcoming Garden Training Series for fall planting!

🌱 Get ready for fall gardening! 🍂🥕🥦

Join the Alabama Farm to ECE Gardening Training Series with Garden Educator Bionca Lindsey!

📅 August 13th
🕒 1:00 PM on Zoom
🌿 Topic: What Can We Plant in Our Fall Garden?

Learn what grows well in the fall and get practical tips and ideas you can use to create a thriving garden with the children in your program. Gardening is a great way to help young children explore where food comes from, try new fruits and vegetables, and learn through hands-on experiences!

🍁 Whether you already have a garden or are just getting started, we’d love to have you join us!

Register here: https://www.alabamahkhf.org/upcomingtrainings/virtual-gardening-training-series-august-2026

20 years of reading. A lifetime of impact.

A look back to 15 years ago...

When (former) Congressman Mike Rogers visited Pediatric Associates of Auburn to learn more about the program and to share with families the importance of reading aloud every day.

Pediatricians and nurses at Pediatric Associates are sending families home from checkups with free books and a very important prescription – “read aloud to your children.” On Thursday, August 11, Representative Mike Rogers visited the health center, not only to cheer them on, but to practice what doctors preach by reading to a group of young patients.

Some of our favorites!

They’re back! Sandra Boynton favorites have returned to our website—proof that the best books never stay on the shelf for long.

Celebrating 20 Years Together 🎉

We’re not the only ones marking 20 years in 2026; our beloved partner, Nick's Kids Foundation, is celebrating as well!

We are immensely thankful to Nick’s Kids Foundation for their unwavering support since 2011, and we are proud to share this milestone with them.

Last week, Jennifer McCain, MD, FAAP, the incoming president of the Alabama Chapter-American Academy of Pediatrics, represented our program at the Nick’s Kids Annual Luncheon. Alongside her son Gus, she has been a steadfast supporter of our initiative and our signature fundraising event, the Grand Pediatric Pentathlon, for many years. Together with many others from nonprofits across the state, they enjoyed a delightful day filled with fun alongside Nick and Terry Saban, Big Al, Alabama Football and University of Alabama cheerleaders.

Thanks to their generous grants over the past 15 years, our sites and clinicians at five sites in Tuscaloosa County -- Alabama Multi-Specialty Group, Bama Pediatrics, Crimson Pediatrics, University Medical Center and West Alabama Pediatrics -- have transformed routine checkups into opportunities that inspire learning, foster bonding, and cultivate a lifelong love of reading.

Join us in welcoming Chrissy Henderson as our new Statewide Program Manager for Reach Out and Read-Alabama!

Chrissy brings more than 25 years of experience in education to the role, including the past 10 years specializing in dyslexia education and literacy support. Throughout her career, she has been dedicated to helping children develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed while working collaboratively with educators, families, and community partners.

Over the past five years, Chrissy has expanded her expertise beyond the classroom into nonprofit leadership, strategic partnerships, fundraising, volunteer management, event planning, marketing, and community engagement. She is passionate about building meaningful relationships that strengthen organizations and create lasting impact for the communities they serve.

An active community leader, Chrissy serves on the Board of Directors for the Southwest Mobile County Chamber of Commerce and is a member of Impact100 Mobile. She is committed to connecting people, fostering collaboration, and advancing initiatives that improve the lives of children and families across Alabama.

As Statewide Program Manager, Chrissy is excited to support healthcare providers and community partners in promoting early literacy, encouraging family reading, and helping ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive.

We are excited to be partnering with the GFWC Jubilee Women's Club for a Virtual Book Drive for our Baldwin County sites at Coastal Pediatrics, Eastern Shore Children's Clinic and Fairhope Pediatrics!

As of today, the book drive is at 31% of its goal of $2,000‼ Support the virtual book drive by donating today at https://givebutter.com/gfwc-jubilee-virtual-book-drive

One week left to order and join us in our 20th anniversary celebration!

Celebrate Our 20th Anniversary with Exclusive Apparel!

To commemorate our 20th anniversary in 2026, we are thrilled to present our supporters with specially designed sweatshirts and T-shirts that promote our program and celebrate the joy of reading.

The group order will be available until August 17, so don’t miss your chance to place your order today at https://tinyurl.com/da9h6u5w.

20 years of reading. A lifetime of impact.

Every book shared in the exam room opens the door to connection, confidence, and joy — for families and clinicians alike. Every day we celebrate the power of shared reading to bring families closer, spark learning, and build lifelong habits of literacy.

On this 📚, Lee Autrey, CRNP at Gulf Shores Pediatrics shares one of her favorite book she provides at check-ups.