Reading Discovery, the newest and first USA program to come under the auspices of Give Back to Humanity, was inspired by the findings of James J. Heckman who won a Nobel Prize for his findings which connected many of today’s troubling societal issues with early childhood experiences in literacy.   Through years of longitudinal studies, he concluded that adulthood poverty, drug use, low-paying jobs, and homelessness was not just an issue with lack of education, but that lack of education was due to children not being able to read at prescribed 3rd grade levels at age 8.

Heckman’s suggestion was that birth to age 5, a critical time when the brain develops rapidly, learning to read is key to building the foundation of cognitive and character skills necessary for success in school, health, career, and life -- the skills that turn knowledge into know-how and people into productive citizens with better jobs, better health, and benefits to the community as a whole.

Reading Discovery is designed to work in consultation and collaboration with school staff in Beaufort County’s Title I schools.  A group of nearly 100 adult volunteers are dedicated to instilling a love of reading in Pre-Kindergarten & Kindergarten children by pairing one adult with 3 or 4 children in a weekly session of 30 minutes, comprised of book reading, playing word and letter games, and “writing” in a journal.   The one-on-one pairing creates a strong bond and gives a 4- or 5-year-old child a much needed special learning time without distractions of a very busy classroom and a busy home life.   A quality book is gifted to each child at winter and summer breaks, along with a note to parent or guardian encouraging them to frequently continue reading with their child while not in school.