RSVP releases year-end results

A smile spread across Roberta Kraft-Abrahamson’s face when Ashley O’Donnell, a sixth grade student at Forest City, told her, “I am thankful you came because I am a better reader … I can be proud of myself now that I can read better.” For the past school year, the pair met weekly through one of RSVP of North Central Iowa’s six programs called Reading Coaches. Together the volunteer and student developed a bond, while at the same time O’Donnell’s reading proficiency improved.

O’Donnell is one of the nearly 400 children in RSVP’s four-county area impacted by its’ 200 volunteers. RSVP, ranked in the top two percent out of 755 RSVP programs throughout the nation, is a national service program connecting baby boomers to unmet community needs.

In the Reading Coaches program, 50 volunteers like Kraft-Abrahamson met weekly with nearly 96 students throughout the year with a focus on reading. This time was well-spent, according teachers at six north Iowa schools who reported 80 percent of their identified students improved by a 0.5 grade level or more.

“We depend on volunteers at Newman-Catholic to provide extra support that students need in reading and RSVP has been wonderful in providing that support,” stated Newman Principal Jan Avery.

More than 125 volunteers in the Reading Buddies program who work with 218 elementary students made a clear impact as well. Ninety-six percent of the identified students improved their reading scores by 0.5 grade level or more, according to year-end test scores.

“Reading Buddies is a great opportunity for kids to have some one-on-one interaction,” shared Mary Wise, a kindergarten teacher at North Central-Manly. “Over the course of the year the students have improved, having gone from just knowing the sounds to actually sounding out words.”

Lastly, RSVP’s Breakfast Buddies program showed impressive results. Thirty-six volunteers helped students start their day right by providing a listening ear and an encouraging word during school breakfast. According to school counselors, 100% of the 56 school-identified students showed progress in academic performance.