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Founded in Bronx, NY, Start Lighthouse is a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to advancing childhood literacy through a social justice lens. Childhood illiteracy is an everyone, everywhere problem. This is especially the case in the Bronx, where 70% of students do not read proficiently. The biggest barrier to literacy in the Bronx is access to books.
Since its founding in March 2020, Start Lighthouse has distributed more than 21,015 brand-new multicultural books, with a value of more than $400,385. Start Lighthouse addresses the literacy crisis by creating compelling, rewarding reading programs for children and families. Our method includes “Literary Adventures” hosted in conjunction with partner public schools to build home libraries and foster a sense of book ownership; diverse representation in the books we distribute so students see themselves in what they read; and creating permanent spaces in partner public schools to support literacy development for students as well as family members and caregivers. Start Lighthouse rehabilitates abandoned libraries at partner public schools, establishing permanent homes for its programming and representing a significant step in reviving unused library spaces across the Bronx.
In two years, Start Lighthouse has delivered over 500+ hours of programming to schools and families, distributed 21,015 brand-new multicultural and culturally responsive books, and impacted 5,117 students in the Bronx.
The Greater Sum provides strategic training and mentoring for early stage nonprofit innovators. We invest in organizations who are providing new solutions to old problems, and are ready to expand the scale of their impact. We share their stories so that other philanthropists like you have the opportunity to do the same. If you represent a grant-making organization and would like to be connected with these organizations, contact us directly and we’ll make an introduction! Individuals interested in connecting with Respond: Crisis Translation, please visit their website for more information.
The Greater Sum supports organizations that are scaling their impact, either by expanding their service area or by teaching other organizations to replicate their innovation. Why are we excited about Start Lighthouse? When they applied for funding they created a Pitch Deck that describes the problem the organization was founded to address, the solution they have created, and resulting outcomes. We invest in teams; the pitch deck shows how the leadership of Start Lighthouse is laying the groundwork for success.
