Reading is The way up

Program Overview

City National Bank's vision is for all children to discover the joy of reading and experience a lifelong love of books. Research confirms that children learn better and are more likely to be literate later in life when they have access to books. The size and quality of a school library is the best predictor of a student’s academic achievement.

Reading is The way up is a multifaceted program that supports K-12 literacy education. Through this program, City National® invests in:

• School libraries with gifts of books
• K-12 schools with grants to enhance literacy efforts
• Colleagues with paid time off to read to students during the workday (up to 3 hours per month)

What Literacy Means to Us

To City National, literacy means providing our youth with access to resources, unique opportunities and creative outlets. Here are just a few ways we encourage future generations to develop a passion for reading:

• In addition to supplying access to digital and print reading materials for K-12 students, we coordinate in-school author meet and greet events. Some authors and illustrators we've partnered with include: Megan Miranda, Kevin Emerson, Gabby Douglas and Nick Bruel.
• Seeking opportunities to support innovative programs, such as the Braille Institute's Braille Challenge, a competition for blind or visually impaired students. This event includes categories like reading comprehension, braille speed and accuracy, proofreading, spelling, and reading tactile charts and graphs.
• Supporting creative partnerships that inspire children to read no matter where they are. The UCLA People-Animal Connection (PAC) program, for example, motivates hospitalized children to keep their reading level up by reading books to a visiting therapy dog during hospital stays. We also partner with organizations like 826LA, which supports students with their creative and expository writing skills, and GetLit, which inspires students to express themselves through poetry.