Reading Is Fundamental of Northern Virginia (RIF NOVA) is an all-volunteer nonprofit that provides new books and literacy activity programming to more than 23,000 deserving children in the city of Alexandria and in Arlington, Fairfax, and Prince Williams counties. The goal is to promote literacy skills and to motivate reading among children who might otherwise have no books at home. Books are chosen during book distributions at 30+ Northern Virginia schools and centers throughout the academic year. Funds to provide books to children are raised by board members via fundraising letters, social media appeals, and a biannual 5K/One-Mile Run -- "Book It For Books." With 57% of Virginia fourth-graders not able to read at grade level, the issue is critical.
