Margaret McNamara Pastor is the daughter of Margaret McNamara, a former teacher who founded RIF in 1966 in Washington, and Robert McNamara, who served as U.S. Secretary of Defense from 1961 to 1968 and as president of the World Bank. A passionate believer in the power of words and the empowerment of books, she has worked as a community liaison with schools and is a member of RIF's Board of Directors.

Nancy Richardson Carlson is the daughter of Anne Richardson, who served as RIF's chairman from 1981 to 1996, and Elliot Richardson, who served in four cabinet positions during the Nixon and Ford administrations. Nancy has worked for the last twenty-five years in Vermont human services and education. Since 2002, she has directed a district-wide mentoring program that supports middle school youth in achieving their potential through close personal and supportive relationships with caring adults.

Blog Entries by M. McNamara Pastor and N. Richardson Carlson

Congress: Don't Close the Book on RIF

Posted June 3, 2008 | 05:37 PM (EST)


By Margaret McNamara Pastor and Nancy Richardson Carlson

The President's proposed budget eliminates federal funding for Reading Is Fundamental's (RIF) book distribution programs that provides 16 million free books annually to underserved children in schools, childcare centers, migrant work programs, and other locations. Unless Congress reinstates $26 million in...

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