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Leaders & Supporters
Q&A with Mary Lou Russo, The Reading Is Fun Program COO
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What age are the students?Students in the program are in Pre-K through Third Grade at all 11 of the Schenectady public elementary schools.
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What qualifications are needed?Reading Partners must be age 17 and above. Background checks are performed on all Partners before working with children.
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Is experience required to be a Reading Partner?No experience is needed, just a willingness to make a difference in a young student’s life on a weekly basis. Our RIF training helps Reading Partners learn to instill a love of reading and teach youngsters the letters of the alphabet and their sounds.
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When and where are sessions held? How long is each session?Reading sessions will be during the school day 7:30 am to 3:00 pm (convenient day and time agreed upon between teacher and volunteer). Each reading session is 20-30 minutes long. A Reading Partner works with one or more specific students during the visit. Weekly visits run through the school year (usually beginning in October). Reading sessions are at the elementary schools, in public seating areas outside of the child’s classroom (e.g., hallway, cafeteria, library or other public area).
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How did you get involved with RIF?In April 2013, I first met Al Magid, Founder and Executive Director. I had read an article in The Daily Gazette where Al discussed the woefully low reading and literacy scores for Schenectady City School District students, and he described his plans for helping. So, I contacted him to offer my fundraising experience to help build the program.
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What are you most proud of?The knowledge that RIF has impacted so many children! Since RIF was founded, our Reading Partners have helped more than 1,500 students work to attain critical grade-level proficiency. In addition, Reading Partners have given at least 50,000 books to these students to keep and bring home. Currently, in 2025, we have over 100 volunteers working one-on-one with 234 students in all 11 elementary schools.
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What are RIF’s greatest challenges?(1) Recruiting enough Reading Partners to work with all of the students who need the additional reinforcement and (2) raising funds to purchase the many books we distribute.
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As RIF grows, what are the biggest surprises?I am always amazed by the progress that is made when a group of individuals come together to reach a common goal. RIF continues to grow because of the Reading Partners who are committed to the successful progress of the program. Special activities spearheaded by our volunteers include the Spring into Reading is Fun event sponsored by the Wright Family Foundation. Also, our newest project is Fall into the Alphabet, in which RIF purchased and distributed over 1,100 alphabet books to all Schenectady Pre-K & K students. I never envisioned either of these two projects, and so, I can’t even imagine how RIF will continue to grow and impact the youngest among us.
The Reading is Fun Program is very grateful to its grantors, partners and supporters. We could not make a difference without their generosity.
RIF thanks the following 2025 donors and partners:
Ms. Jan Gallas in memory of John Gallas
Mr. Joseph Daviero in memory of Jane Daviero
Tesago Elementary (Shenendehowa) School Library
The Ricci Family
Ms. Linda Francois
The Schenectady Federation of Teachers
Greek Ladies Philoptochos Society, Schenectady
Open Door Book Store
Judith Gregory & Larry Pierce
Sarah & Ben Chan
Dennis & Sonya Daviero
Janice DeCrescenzo
Ray & Marge Lupe
Mary Giannetti
Mark Bianchi
Peggy Daviero
Donna & Thomas Baum
Doreen DeCrescenzo
Joseph DeLorenzo
Douglas Bianchi
Kathleen Hall
Nancy Dominick
Josepha & Edward Salvo
Joe & Cindy Farone
Sandra Kelly
Eric & Cheryl Ledet
Richard McLoughlin
George Repice
James & Maryann McDermott
Burnt Hills United Methodist Church
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