News
RIF Reading Partners: Please note
June Library Hours
Tue 6/10 1-3
Thu 6/12 2-4
Mon 6/16 4-6
Wed. 6/18 10-12
Tue 6/24 1-3
Thu 6/26 10-12
Please return all games by June 20th & all unused books by June 27th.
The Reading Is Fun Program is thrilled to
be selected as an honoree for the 2025
Capital Region Gives Community Service
Award. This award recognizes RIF’s
volunteers for their dedication to
community service.
RIF is grateful to the Times Union & St.
Peter’s Health Partners for this tribute. Also,
RIF is proud of its volunteer Reading
Partners & Leaders, and is excited to tell
the organization’s story to the Capital
Region. Congratulations to all of RIF’s
volunteers and leadership who work to
make a difference in Schenectady’s young
students’ lives.
Awards & Recognition
2025 Friends of Education Award
On March 20, 2025, Reading Is Fun’s Mary Batzinger was selected for the 2025 Friends of Education Award, awarded by Capital Area School Development Association (CASDA). In a ceremony on May 1st, 2025, Mary will be among the honored at the CASDA Annual Awards and Friends of Education Celebration. She has been a Reading Partner since 2017, impacting 110 students. She is also Library Coordinator, managing a beautiful space where Reading Partners come to get books and other supplies for their work with students. In 2023, she formed the Reading Skills Advisory Committee. In 2024 alone, Mary devoted over 800 volunteer hours to RIF.
May 2018:
Schenectady County Human Rights Commission, at its 35th Annual Awards Breakfast on May 17, 2018 presented the Reading Is Fun Program with the 2018 Group Achievement Award for outstanding leadership and contributions that improve the Human and Civil Rights of Schenectady County Residents.
January 2017:
The Reading Is Fun Program received the Schenectady City School District Education Foundation's 2017 Dr. Ray and June Benenson Community Service Award for its outstanding help to the Schenectady City School District and its classroom teachers and young students.
May 2017:
Al Magid was one of the two winners of the annual Schenectady County Senior Citizen Award, for his work with the Reading is Fun Program. Al was also selected as one of the three awardees statewide, who received The Governor’s Recognition for their "exemplary service" as senior-citizen volunteers. The designations were made by the governor and the chairs of the NY State Senate and Assembly Committees on Aging.
2016:
Al Magid received the Capital Area School Development Association (CASDA) Friend of Education Award, recognizing service to the Schenectady City School District through the Reading Is Fun Program.