Mission: To inspire and equip underserved children and their families with the tools for continued success. The Russell Education Foundation (REF) primarily exists to provide high-quality school-age programs for economically disadvantaged and working parents whose children need a safe place to learn and grow after school and during the summer.
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Russell Reading Rooms are locally driven solutions that help students, families, and employers get ahead.
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Russell Reading Rooms participation helps narrow the achievement gap between high-and low-income students in math, improve academic and behavioral outcomes.
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Russell Reading Rooms provide a broad array of additional services, programs and activities focusing on subjects like service learning, violence prevention, and physical fitness.
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Russell Reading Rooms provide opportunities for academic enrichment to meet the challenging academic standards of the State of Florida.
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Students who regularly participate in Russell Reading Rooms improve their school attendance, class participation, homework completion, and reading achievement scores and grades.
Programs
Russell Reading Room at Griffin Park
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REF Reading Rooms provide safe, engaging environments that motivate and inspire learning outside of the regular school day. Our Reading Rooms combine academic enrichment, cultural, and recreation activities to guide learning and engage children in wholesome activities.
The Life Skills Program
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Through the REF's Life Skills component, political leaders, educators, current and former pro athletes, board members, and business leaders volunteer their time to talk about their education background at each site to inspire and showcase different career paths.
Dragonfly Darlings
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Empowering Parents!
Dragonfly Darlings provides support and resources for the families of children participating in R.E.F.'s after school programs. Seminars provide mothers with family development tools to grow professionally and strengthen their family.