Read about how CLI is making a difference for families inside and outside of the classroom!
Press Room
March News
April 5, 2013
Read about how CLI is flourishing through partnerships with Target and the Connelly Foundation and how we celebrated World Read Aloud Day!
Early Literacy Program Takes Root
March 8, 2013
Children's Literacy Initiative has a plan for sustaining its presence in Philadelphia with a $1 million grant there, and is eyeing Chicago for a similar expansion as soon as fall 2013.
Huffington Post Live Features CLI Executive Director, Kelly Hunter for World Read Aloud Day
March 6, 2013
Huffington Post Live features CLI Executive Director, Kelly Hunter for World Read Aloud Day.
William Penn Foundation Donates 1M to CLI
December 19, 2012
Today, Children’s Literacy Initiative (CLI) received a $1 million challenge grant from the William Penn Foundation to dramatically expand its proven model in Philadelphia schools, including public, charter and parochial. Beginning in January 2013, CLI will use the William Penn Foundation’s emblematic gift to kick off a 10-year campaign to build the literacy skills of young children in the Greater Philadelphia region through quality teaching.
Listen to our Voices
November 21, 2012
CLI's Executive Director on CLI's mission and how it aligns with CLI Board Member, Chris Beck's book "Listen to our Voices."
CLI's Work Highlighted in the Chicago Tribune
November 7, 2012
The Chicago Tribune highlights CLI's work in Chicago.
CLI's Executive Director, Kelly Hunter, Ed.D., and LeVar Burton
September 21, 2012
LeVar Burton discusses the importance of childhood literacy with Kelly Hunter, Ed.D., on HuffPost Live:
http://live.huffingtonpost.com/#r/segment/504fcd60fe34444698000221
CLI's Executive Director-900AM Wurd Podcast
September 18, 2012
Listen to CLI's Executive Director, Kelly Hunter, Ed.D. address " Excellence and Equity. Securing our Future. Public Education in the 21st Century" on 900 AM Wurd.
CLI 2011 Report
May 24, 2012
The CLI 2011 Report is now available online. This report highlights CLI’s accomplishments and growth from July 2010-December 2011. Additionally, it focuses on stakeholders that have helped CLI build on the strengths of teachers to create sustainable change.
Catalyst-Chicago Highlights CLI and Target's Partnership in CPS Classrooms
January 20, 2012
Officials from Target and CPS highlighted the Children’s Literacy Initiative program at a Wednesday morning event at Cardenas Elementary. In fall 2010, the program won a $22 million “validation” grant – the highest tier – in the U.S. Department of Education’s Investing in Innovation contest.
CLI Receives $450,000 Donation from Townsend Press to Launch the Camden Literacy Project
December 15, 2011
Children’s Literacy Initiative (CLI) has received a $450,000 donation from Townsend Press, a highly regarded educational publisher based in Camden County, NJ. The Townsend donation will launch a new multi-faceted venture, the Camden Literacy Project.
CLI Names Dr. Kelly Hunter as Organization’s Next Executive Director
December 12, 2011
Hunter Selected in National Search, Served as Interim Executive Director
PHILADELPHIA—December 12, 2011— Children’s Literacy Initiative’s (CLI) Board of Directors today announced the appointment of Dr. Kelly Hunter as executive director, effective immediately. Hunter has served as interim executive director since founding executive director Linda Katz announced her retirement in July.
CLI Partner, Target on Track to Give $1 Billion for Education by 2015
December 7, 2011
CLI's partner in Chicago,Target, highlights their education programs in an Interview with Laysha Ward, President of Community Relations, on a Forbes online forum.
CLI Included in University of Pennsylvania's Center for High Impact of Philanthropy Top Ten List to Optimize Holiday Giving
December 2, 2011
Children's Literacy Initiative has been included in a top ten best recommended opportunities to make a meaningful difference in people's lives list by the University of Pennsylvania's Center for High Impact of Philanthropy. The new High Impact Holiday Giving Guide was written for individuals/organizations seeking to optimize the social impact of their philanthropic activities during this traditional season of giving.
CLI Receives $500,000 Donation from Target
November 17, 2011
as part of the retailer’s longstanding commitment to education and reading. This donation will be used to expand CLI’s Model Classroom program in Chicago Public Schools and create an online professional development portal. This contribution is part of Target’s commitment to helping more U.S. children reach the critical academic milestone of reading proficiently by the end of third grade. This fall specifically, Target is donating a total of $50 million to educators, schools and nonprofit organizations across the country to help ignite a love of learning among children.
Annie E. Casey Foundation Campaign for 3rd Grade Reading Highlights CLI as a Successful Organization
August 2, 2011
Extreme Makeover: Classroom Edition could be the new theme of Chicago’s Lázaro Cárdenas Elementary School. Unlike the show, however, no cameras are rolling when the school’s principal and five third-grade teachers enthusiastically organize and rearrange classrooms during the summer of 2011 to support more effective teaching techniques in reading and writing.
Innovation That Delivers: i3 at Work
July 8, 2011
Innovation That Delivers: i3 at Work, presented by Children’s Literacy Initiative (CLI), was held on June 29, 2011 in Newark, NJ. This national meeting came at the conclusion of the first year of CLI’s Modeling Exemplary Literacy Instruction project, and brought together project participants and CLI stakeholders to reflect on the past year and strategize for the next phase of the project.
We would like to extend our most sincere appreciation to all attendees, speakers, panelists and to our sponsors – Cigna and Lakeshore. We are grateful to Newark Public Schools for helping to make this event—the first of five annual meetings—such a success.
We had over 100 participants in attendance for featured presentations and discussion sessions exploring the following topics:
- Ensuring quality teaching for all students
- Leadership perspectives on education reform
- Implementing innovation in four i3 partner districts – Camden, Chicago, Philadelphia and Newark
We look forward to seeing you at future CLI events and encourage you to visit our website for updates about our i3 project during the coming school year.
CLI Places 3rd in Wells Fargo’s “Vote for your Favorite Philadelphia Charity”
May 5, 2011
CLI would like to thank Wells Fargo and everyone who voted for us. Wells Fargo distributed voting ballots to their Philadelphia clients with CLI listed as a voting option. CLI placed 3rd out of the other Philadelphia charities listed on the ballot and received a donation of $15,000. Thank you for all of your support and confidence in our work
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