The Bay Area Jewish Coalition for Literacy is an affiliate of the National Jewish Coalition for Literacy. Together with community‑based partners, the Bay Area JCL aims to help reverse the trend of illiteracy across the country by mobilizing hundreds of volunteer reading tutors, organizing book drives, and developing advocacy for public education.

The Bay Area JCL has regional chapters in San Francisco, the East Bay, and the Peninsula. Reading volunteers attend one training session, and are placed in a public school or after–school program, depending on site need and volunteer convenience.

Volunteers work one-on-one with a student and/or provide read aloud sessions for classes or small groups. JCL holds periodic events, which feature additional training and social activities. Volunteers are asked to make a commitment of one hour per week for the duration of the school year—but many find they wish to do much more!

By spending as little as one hour each week coaching a K–3 student, you can really make a difference. Sign up and help a child learn to read. Book drives are another great way to help promote literacy if you don’t have time to tutor weekly.

Focus on our Funders

JCL is made possible through the generous support of the following:

The following foundations and funds of the Jewish Community Endowment Fund of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties:

• Newhouse Fund
• Bill Graham Foundation
• Alexander M. and June L. Maisin Foundation
• Sarlo Foundation
• Gerson and Barbara Bakar Philanthropic Fund
• Fanny Bess Philanthropic Fund
• Alison F. Geballe Philanthropic Fund
• Lavenstein Family Philanthropic Fund
• Rothenberg Family Philanthropic Fund
• Peter Sloss Philanthropic Fund
• Peninsula Jewish Community Teen Foundation

Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay:

• Community Service Fund
• Literacy Fund of the Family of Funds
• Donald and Carole Chaiken Foundation
• Jewish Community Foundation & the Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay Fund for Social Justice & Human Needs

Private Foundations:

• Atkinson Foundation
• Books Inc.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America
• Clorox Company Foundation
• Fleishhacker Foundation
• David B. Gold Foundation
• Lisa and Douglas Goldman Fund
• Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund
• Walter and Elise Haas Fund
• Brad and Emily Handler Fund of the Community Fund of Silicon Valley
• Koret Foundation
• Kreitzberg Family Foundation
• Marguerite Fund of the East Bay Community Foundation
• Milton and Sophie Meyer Fund
• Sinai Memorial Chapel
• Silver Giving Foundation
• Morris Stulsaft Foundation
• TRIO Foundation
• Y & H Soda Foundation

Corporate Funders:

• Ameriquest
• TRI Coldwell Banker
• JPMorgan Chase
• Juniper Networks Foundation Fund
• Morrison and Foerster Foundation
• Wells Fargo

And our many individual donors.