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Every Child Reads Endowment
At a Glance
- Purpose: Provide long-term, sustainable support for reading and vocabulary programming for children in our community.
- Dyslexia Support: Includes a dedicated sub-fund supporting dyslexia screenings and specialized services in Dubuque and the region.
About Us
The Every Child Reads Endowment is committed to ensuring children in our community have access to strong, consistent literacy support, today and for generations to come. By building permanent funding for reading and vocabulary programming, the endowment supports long-term, sustainable initiatives that help children develop essential literacy skills at every stage of their learning journey.
The endowment also includes a dedicated sub-fund supporting dyslexia services, helping fund specialized resources so all children have the opportunity to thrive as readers.
Mission
The mission of the Every Child Reads Endowment is to provide lasting support for reading and vocabulary programming by investing in sustainable, evidence-based literacy initiatives and ensuring access to specialized services, including dyslexia support, so every child has the opportunity to become a confident reader.
Basic Information
Phone
563-588-2700Address
Director
Mary Jo Jean Francois
Director Email
maryjoj@dbqfoundation.orgSuccess Story
Across the Dubuque community, children with dyslexia are finding support in places they already know and trust. Trained tutors work one-on-one with students at sites including the Boys & Girls Club, Dubuque Community School District, the Dream Academy, and Northeast Iowa Community College’s dyslexia classroom located in its downtown Dubuque campus meeting families where they are and removing barriers to access.
Through the Community Foundation’s dyslexia initiative, income-based scholarships help ensure cost is not a barrier for families seeking services. Since the program began in 2023, 61 students have received dyslexia screenings, and 44 children are currently receiving ongoing support—giving them the tools they need to grow as confident readers.
“While dyslexia can pose challenges, it doesn’t have to limit children’s learning,” says Dr. Donna Loewen, a longtime Dubuque public school principal who now is a tutor for the program. “Thanks to generous donors, we are bringing much-needed resources—and peace of mind—to families in the Dubuque region.”
Through donor support, this work is helping children unlock their potential, strengthening literacy outcomes today while building a more inclusive, supportive future for families across our community.
Fund Details
Fund Name
Every Child Reads Endowment
Year Founded
2026
Type of Fund
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Every Child Reads Endowment