Kumon, an after-school enrichment program, is partnering in the month of March with Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), the nation’s largest children’s literacy organization dedicated to providing books and literacy resources to underserved children across the country.

Kumon of Redmond and Kumon of Redmond Ridge are celebrating this partnership with literacy open house events on March 3.

Kumon of Redmond’s open house will be from 2-4 p.m. at 8133 161st Ave. N.E. Kumon of Redmond Ridge’s open house will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 22320 N.E. Marketplace Drive, Suite 101.

Families of school-aged children are invited to attend the free events, which will feature games, prizes, refreshments, read aloud sessions from classics like “The Cat in the Hat” by Dr. Seuss and more.

Both Kumon centers will be hosting book drives in addition to the open houses. Families who attend are asked to bring a new or gently used book that will be sent to RIF to be distributed to low income children, many of which have never owned a book before.

Kumon North America is committed to donating a minimum of $50,000 in support of RIF’s mission.

Each center will have a raffle basket donors can enter and the raffle drawings will be held at the end of the open house.

“Reading is essential to the academic and personal development of children, opening their minds to new worlds, people, and experiences,” said Kumon of Redmond instructor Denise Ensign.

Kumon of Redmond Ridge instructor Vanessa Walsh added, “I’m excited to celebrate the joy of reading with the families of the Redmond Ridge community.”

For more information contact Ensign at (425) 869-3939 or Walsh at (425) 495-4968.