Our Mission..."To put a smile on the face of a Child in the time of need"
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for students and teachers throughout the Country! When you click on the Rock-N-Read icon on our home page you will go directly into the link that provides you with a step by step strategy on how to run your own event and make it a success in your own community! This is an exciting event for any student to get involved with that would like to help support the "B.A.C.K. Packets" program in their local area!
With the help of Kelli Kane, the Graphic Design Manager at the Culver's Franchising System, Inc., we are now able to offer an exciting and Official Rock-N-Read fund raising event
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©2007 R.E.A.C.H. a Child - PO Box 133 Madison, WI 53701 - Toll Free #: (866) 992-6324 - Admin Login
Hi! I am Chris Gilbertson, the president of R.E.A.C.H. a Child.
I have lived in Wisconsin all my life. I attended high school in Hartland and received my nursing degree at Milwaukee County School of Nursing. I have been a nurse for 25 years and love being able to help others.
I also have a love of reading which I developed as a child. I believe this love has helped me in so many ways and I can’t wait to share it with other children!
Through a collaborative effort with my husband, Paul, we have created R.E.A.C.H. a Child.
We hope to reach thousands of children who may have experienced some trauma, are ill, or do not have access to books for whatever reason. I truly hope that I can make a difference in these children’s lives by brightening their day, showing them that someone cares and instilling a love for reading that will last a lifetime.
Rock-N-Read Fund Raiser
About Us
In 2007, Children's Book Author, Paul Gilbertson, and his wife, Chris, wanted to find a way to help children who are unfortunate victims of crises. When the little town of Gays Mills, Wisconsin was flooded that same year, Paul jumped at the chance to try and improve the situation for all the children who were affected by the disaster. Paul and his daughter packed up the car with boxes of children's' books and started their journey. A few hours later, the two arrived at the scene only to be greeted by yellow police tape, first responders and emergency vehicles. Although this first attempt to "Bring a smile to the face of a child in the time of need" was not successful, it was just the beginning. On the drive home that day, Paul realized in order to REACH a Child at the time of crisis, he needed to team up with the people who arrive at the unfortunate crisis first.
Out of this experience the R.E.A.C.H. a Child "B.A.C.K. Packets" program was born, this initiative centers around providing approximately 10-12 various children's books to officers and first responders in a red backpack for them to give to children that they see at the scene of an accident, fire, domestic disturbance or in other traumatic situations.
Currently these red backpacks are in over 15,000 squad cars and ambulances throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, Nebraska and California. Within our first two years we have donated over 175,000 Children's books to children in crisis situations with the help of these First Responders, Police, Sheriff and State Patrol officers! Likewise, we have a waiting list of over 2,000 squad cars and EMS ambulances in over 15 states wanting to get involved in this "B.A.C.K. Packets" program!
We urgently need your assistance, both financially and through your time and talents, to help us expand this program throughout the country.
OUR GOAL
Our goal is to expand the REACH a Child and our "B.A.C.K. Packets" program across the United States in an effort to reach as many children on crisis as possible because of the positive impact that it is having on children in crisis. We are constantly exploring and testing a variety of new programs to achieve this goal.
A Letter From Our President
The ABC's
of helping kids in crisis
