Roots and Wings Awarded $5,000 Grant from Honda Classic Cares

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. - June 14, 2021 - PRLog -- Roots and Wings, a Delray Beach based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, received a $5,000 grant from The Honda Classic® Cares on Tuesday afternoon at Plumosa School of the Arts in Delray Beach, Florida. The grant was specifically designated for the organization's Project UpLift program, which is dedicated to helping children with reading and reading comprehension skills. The program does this by employing each school's own certified teachers, who already know their students' unique challenges and how best to overcome them. Project UpLift allows teachers to address components not included in the school day, such as fundamental phonics, in small groups of ten or less. This free program meets students at the level they are currently at, rewards small gains to build confidence, encourages incremental progress and celebrates successes. The end goal: give students the tools they need to achieve reading proficiency.

A recent McKinsey and Company report revealed that children of color and those living in poverty have lost a year or more worth of learning due to Covid-19. Because of this, demand for a programs like Project UpLift have dramatically increased. Lisa Lee, Principal of Orchard View Elementary School in Delray Beach, reported that 17 of her third graders were reading at a first grade reading level last year. This year, according to Principal Lee, that number has more than doubled to 40 students. Project UpLift aids these students and is currently operating in eight Title One schools located in Delray Beach, Boynton Beach and Boca Raton.

"We are so excited about receiving this grant," said Ted Hoskinson, Founder of Roots and Wings, "And we are honored that The Honda Classic Cares organization understands our deep commitment to improving the lives of students struggling with reading. The number one predictor of a student's success in school is the ability to pass the third grade FSA in reading. If they don't pass, there is a 74% chance that student will not graduate from high school. This grant will help us change more lives."

About Roots and Wings

Roots and Wings is a Delray Beach based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of education in the extended South Florida community by supporting students who most need help in learning to read and providing encouragement for the teachers who are working hard each day to influence and inspire children to learn. Learn more at https://rootsandwingsinc.org.