Did you know that 85% of youth in the juvenile justice system cannot read or read below grade level? Or that 70% of people living in poverty lack basic literacy skills—and worse, 74% of their children are already struggling to read?

This is not just a statistic. It’s a warning. A cycle that, without intervention, continues from one generation to the next.

But what if we could change that?

At RISE Augusta, we believe we can—and we do, every day. Because behind every number is a child with dreams. A child like Maria.

RISE Augusta is thrilled to announce that we have been named one of only ten recipients of the prestigious Georgia Reads Community Award by the Georgia Council on Literacy. This recognition celebrates our organization’s outstanding impact on youth literacy—and comes with a $25,000 grant to further support and expand our community-based literacy initiatives.

Jack Church talks with Laurie Cook, Executive Director for RISE Augusta. Cook talks about how RISE Augusta works with younger school age children to improve literacy skills through small group and one on one sessions inside local elementary schools. Richmond County has a poverty rate of 36% among children and she said studies show that students living in poverty struggle the most with reading skills and that is a major factor in the founding the RISE. Cook says if you can improve children's reading skills it, in most cases, translates to better chances of completing high school, going on to college, and living a life out of poverty.

Next time you're driving down Lake Forest Drive, take a moment to check out the two beautiful boxes right in front of Lake Forest Hills Elementary School. One is a Blessings Box, filled with canned goods and non-perishables for those in need. The other is RISE Augusta’s newest Little Library—part of our growing network of book boxes placed throughout the community to spark a love of reading.

Years ago, my wife Pam worked as a literacy tutor. She would come home and tell me stories—not just about reading lessons, but about lives being transformed. Her students didn’t just learn to read. They found confidence. They began to see a future. That experience changed them… and it changed us, too.

At RISE Augusta, our Volunteers & Tutors truly make an incredible impact into the lives of our local Richmond County Students. Jenny Landrum is one such tutor that was recently featured on a Channel 12 interview with Zayna Hailburton.

At RISE Augusta, we believe that every student deserves the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their circumstances. That belief is at the heart of our STRIVE Program, a transformative initiative dedicated to helping students overcome barriers and reach their full potential.

Read Across America 2025 was a tremendous success in the schools where RISE Augusta serves and we couldn’t have done it without our incredible volunteers! This year, RISE Augusta partnered with area businesses and organizations to recruit over 200 volunteers who dedicated their time to reading in classrooms across Richmond County. Their enthusiasm and commitment helped bring the joy of books and storytelling to children, fostering a love for reading that will last a lifetime.

One of our RISE tutors recently shared a remarkable story about a student who could not read and was very shy and withdrawn at the beginning of the school year, has blossomed.  Her love for reading and her success since entering the program has sparked a powerful transformation.

A lifelong advocate for community service, Debby Kalliokoski has dedicated her career to uplifting others. Originally from Ohio, she pursued her education in Florida and earned a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management from Voorhees College in 2003.

RISE Augusta has been recognized as one of ten organizations across Georgia to receive the distinguished Georgia Reads Community Award for its outstanding literacy programs and local impact. The award, presented by the Georgia Council on Literacy In February, acknowledges organizations with proven success in literacy improvements and a commitment to community collaboration.  Laurie Cook, Executive Director of RISE Augusta sat down with WFXG to discuss this honor.

I want to take a moment to honor and thank an exceptional leader, Kaden Jacobs, for his incredible dedication to RISE Augusta. After two remarkable terms as Board Chairman, he has passed the gavel to the capable hands of Jay Murray, Augusta Market President with TRUIST Bank.

When Reid joined our kindergarten class midway through the first semester, he was starting from scratch—literally. Unlike his classmates, he had never been to school before. When we administered the "Words Their Way" assessment, he scored a 0.

Laurie Cook is the executive director. She joins Jennie, along with the director of the STRIVE program, Angela Prince.