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FAIRFIELD, Conn. (June 1, 2023) — For children living in poverty across rural America, summer can mean losing up to 34% of what they learned during the school year and the consistent meals schools provide[1]. Today, to help ensure rural kids in need have the books, meals, education resources and programming they need to keep learning and developing in the summer, ��һ�Թ� is launching its annual summer education campaign, Make Summer Fair, which goes through Sept. 8, International Literacy Day.

“Summer isn’t fair for many rural children. The last day of school, for them, can mean no more access to books, regular meals and art supplies, and the end of exercising and playing with friends until the next school year,” said Betsy Zorio, Vice President of U.S. Programs for ��һ�Թ�. “When children are unable to keep learning, creating and growing throughout the summer months, they not only fall behind their peers, but may never catch up – which can have lifelong consequences. The Make Summer Fair campaign – and its strong network of partners and supporters – is working to eliminate the deep inequities rural kids struggle with every summer, so they can thrive as learners and in life.”

While poverty affects millions in the U.S., its strongest grip on children’s lives is most often in rural communities – as rural child poverty is higher than urban areas in 40 states[2]. In addition, 90 percent of counties with the highest food security rates are rural[3] – a challenge that can be further compounded for many rural kids when schools are closed for the summer.

Make Summer Fair is generously presented by Mattel, Penguin Random House, Good360, Amazon, Vooks, HarperCollins Publishers, Once Upon a Farm, Teddy Grahams, American Girl, Zulily, IKEA U.S., Encantos, Sunrays, The Amy Krouse Rosenthal Foundation, Noggin by Nick Jr. and UNIQLO USA.

Make Summer Fair supporters can also join ��һ�Թ�'s sister organization – ��һ�Թ� Action Network – by sending a message to Congress to invest in early childhood education, helping prepare kids for a lifetime of learning.

��һ�Թ�’s work in the United States is focused on ensuring that all children in rural America have a healthy, strong foundation to be successful in school and life. Its education and nutrition programs work to provide children the skills and support they need to be ready for kindergarten and achieve grade-level proficiently in reading and math by third grade.

To learn more about the Make Summer Fair campaign, visit SavetheChildren.org/MakeSummerFair  

[1] Atteberry, A., & McEachin, A. in press, 2020. School's out: The role of summers in understanding achievement disparities. American Education Research Journal. 34% reflects fifth grade math learning loss.

[2] ��һ�Թ� U.S. Complement to the End of Childhood Report 2018. .

[3] Feeding America .