Building Brighter Futures Through Early Literacy: A Conversation with the CenterPoint Energy Foundation
Every child deserves the opportunity to discover the joy of reading and build a strong foundation for lifelong learning. Making this possible takes meaningful partnerships with organizations that share our commitment to supporting children and families.
Through our partnership with the CenterPoint Energy Foundation, we’re expanding access to books and early literacy resources in Greater Minnesota, helping more families build reading routines, strengthen connections, and prepare children for success in school and beyond.
As we enter the second year of our partnership, we connected with Rachel Molzahn, Lead Specialist, Minnesota Community Relations at CenterPoint Energy, to discuss the Foundation’s commitment to early literacy, the importance of investing in families, and the opportunities ahead as Raising a Reader continues to grow in Minnesota.
What outcomes does the CenterPoint Energy Foundation prioritize when selecting education partners?
The CenterPoint Energy Foundation believes literacy powers possibilities and prepares students for their future. This starts by preparing our youngest learners for school with the tools they need to be successful once they start. That’s why our literacy grants focus on strengthening kindergarten readiness and third grade reading proficiency.
Research shows that when a child is ready for kindergarten, they’re more likely to read on grade level, graduate high school on time, and have more opportunities for long-term economic success and mobility. That’s why we were excited to start a conversation with Raising a Reader and be part of funding the expansion of this program in Greater Minnesota.
We consider evidence-based and evidence-informed initiatives when evaluating education grants and look for programs that engage students and families in cultivating essential literacy skills. Our grant applications specifically ask organizations to share how many students will demonstrate growth in reading proficiency, how many books will be gifted to students, and how many hours of tutoring are provided, since these approaches positively impact literacy outcomes.
How has Raising a Reader helped advance the Foundation’s literacy and educational goals in Minnesota?
The National Association for the Education of Young Children shares that reading aloud to a child for 15 minutes a day can help increase knowledge, strengthen connections with caring adults, and build a strong literacy foundation. Raising a Reader’s mission to support families while developing literacy skills and inspiring a lifelong love for reading, aligns with our Foundation’s Education and literacy funding goals and the positive impact we strive to make in our communities.
Raising a Reader engages families and caregivers by providing books in multiple languages, sharing tips to encourage reading together and exposing students to books with various subjects, characters and genres through the Classic Red Book Bag and Home Library programs. This is the type of impact that we seek to support to benefit families in the communities we serve.
We’re excited that our funding is part of bringing more literacy programs and resources to school districts, community organizations, and families in communities throughout the state. Raising a Reader’s interest in launching a program in Alexandria, MN, a thriving community in Greater Minnesota, expands access to literacy support for students and families.
Alexandria Public Schools’ partnership with Raising a Reader demonstrates a local commitment to the success of the program and provides expertise to help identify students and families who would benefit most. Together, we see this local commitment from a trusted community organization as a pathway toward program success.
As the educational landscape continues to evolve, what priorities will guide the Foundation’s education-focused investments in the years ahead?
At the CenterPoint Energy Foundation, we recognize that strong literacy and critical thinking skills fuel a foundation for future success. Many of the communities and nonprofits we’re privileged to serve need investment in these areas as they work to provide students with opportunities to pursue the career and post-secondary path that is right for them.
We also know that making progress to close education gaps takes time and resources. That’s why our education grants focus on key building blocks – programs that focus on early literacy, digital literacy, STEM education and exposure, and workforce development. We continue to invest in these priorities for a brighter future for our next generation.
- As we enter the second year of our partnership, what opportunities are you most excited about?
We’re excited to see how Raising a Reader programs continue to grow and to hear stories from parents and caregivers about the difference these programs make for the children in their lives.
We also look forward to learning what changes Alexandria Public Schools sees related to literacy proficiency or student engagement through program participation. Most of all, we are thrilled that more children will be able to access books that inspire them, spark their imagination, and help them to dream bigger.