HomeMy WebLinkAbout26-0070 - 2026-06-02 - Informal ReportINFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 26-0070
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
June 2, 2026
Page 1 of 2
SUBJECT: RAINWATER CHARITABLE FOUNDATION - EXPANDING
LITERACY ACCESS
This Informal Report provides an overview of the $338,050 grant awarded to the Park & Recreation
Department (PARD) by the Rainwater Charitable Foundation to expand literacy access for youth
participating in the 2026 Camp Fort Worth summer program. The funding supports PARD's ongoing efforts
to prevent "summer slide" and improve or maintain reading levels among campers.
Camp Fort Worth is an eight -week summer program serving youth ages 5-12 at 21 community centers
and four mobile recreation sites. Since 2018, PARD has partnered with the REV (Read, Excel, Verify)
Partnership and the City Manager's Office to integrate literacy initiatives into summer programming.
PARD Literacy Initiatives utilize Literacy Support Specialists (LSS) to:
• Conduct literacy screenings (alphabet recognition, phonological awareness, phonics, fluency,
comprehension)
• Prevent summer slide through literacy -infused recreation and leisure reading into daily recreation
• Serve as access points for literacy services, resources, and information
In 2025, 957 youth were assessed, and 98% maintained or improved their reading levels, demonstrating
the effectiveness of the program.
Established in 1991 by Richard E. Rainwater in Fort Worth, the Foundation focuses on strengthening
communities by expanding access to high -quality education and supporting programs that help children
and families thrive. The 2026 grant continues this legacy by investing directly in literacy outcomes for Fort
Worth youth.
The grant will allow PARD to significantly enhance literacy services across all 25 Camp Fort Worth sites
through:
• Enhanced Literacy Support
o Increased staffing of Literacy Support Specialists
■ Sites with higher enrollment will increase from 1 to 2 LSS
■ LSS hours will increase from 20 to 25 hours per week
o Addition of two Literacy Support Coordinators (Sr. LSS) to improve coordination between
PARD, the Library Department, and Literacy Roundup (dyslexia screening), and to strengthen
parent outreach and engagement
• Program Incentives & Resources
• Incentives for "Literacy Champions" to encourage participation
• Purchase of additional equipment (laptops, iPads, headphones)
• Expansion of literacy activity kits to support enhanced lesson plans and engaging classroom
environments
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 26-0070
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
June 2, 2026
Page 2 of 2
SUBJECT: RAINWATER CHARITABLE FOUNDATION - EXPANDING
LITERACY ACCESS
The Rainwater Charitable Foundation grant enables PARD to deepen its commitment to addressing the
local literacy crisis by expanding high -quality literacy support during summer day camp. This investment
strengthens program impact, improves literacy outcomes for more children, expands access to literacy
resources for families, strengthens program quality and consistency across all sites and enhances the
department's ability to support youth literacy development across Fort Worth.
For questions regarding this information, please contact Monique Hill, Park & Recreation Department,
Assistant Director at 817-392-5775.
Jesus "Jay" Chapa
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS