Jester & Pharley Phund
PROGRAMS
Reading Makes A Difference™
Our literacy program inspires disadvantaged, struggling young students to read by helping others. We empower them and help them develop vital social-emotional learning skills. Our unique approach builds on children’s innate compassion reinforced by the best-selling children’s book “The Jester Has Lost His Jingle,” with its compelling message that “It’s up to us to make a difference. It’s up to us to care.” Reading remains an essential life skill, but even after limited student progress last year, state data shows that only 43% of California students were reading at grade level in 2023. And far fewer Black and Latino students met grade level standards. “Students who aren’t reading at grade level by the third grade will struggle to catch up throughout their education career,” EdSource noted in its May 2024 report on the study. California Reading and Literature Project director Shervaughnna Anderson-Byrd, told the L.A. Times that thousands of students under 9 “are some of the hardest-hit kids when it comes to reading.” Our unique approach motivates these children at an early age – when introduction to “The Jester” can yield tremendous results. The beauty of the RMD program is that it allows students to give of themselves and develop a love of reading on their own. The centerpiece of the program is a Read-A-Thon by which students read to donate colorful, uplifting “Jester” books and comforting Jester & Pharley Dolls to local hospitalized children. Inspiring assemblies, a Q&A With The Jester’s Mom and a Jester Read-A-Thon motivate students to read. A newly introduced art project helps them get in touch with their emotions and nonverbal expression. The five-week project gives teachers valuable tools and activities to make reading fun. A copy of the bilingual English/Spanish “Jester” is given to each classroom and the library, along with three Educator Enrichment Manuals with lesson ideas and creative activities.
Reading Makes A Difference ignites a love for reading while building literacy skills among disadvantaged elementary students, especially among English learners. The program results in better reading performance, more interest in independent reading, expanded reading ability and comprehension, growing character development, reduced bullying and community engagement.
Over 171,000 students have read nearly 51 million pages in 310 school programs to donate “Jester” books and dolls to children in local hospitals.
The most effective part of our RMD program is “having kids realize that reading is fun,” said a 4th grade teacher. When teachers see enthusiasm for reading, they see fluency and comprehension scores rise and students who are more successful in meeting grade-level assessment targets. A 5th grade teacher happily reported that all 25 of her students “increased their reading fluency beyond their grade level” with the RMD program.
Our surveys during the last 24 years show that, on average, participants increase the number of pages they read during our Read-A-Thon by 75%. Some 74% show an increase in free reading and 60% raise their grade-level reading. The program also helps increase Social-Emotional Learning (SEL). On average our surveys reveal that 73% show more empathy toward others; 72% make progress in managing feelings of frustration and disappointment, and 73% feel more self-confident. Some 98% of educators seek the RMD program’s return and 98% recommend it to other schools.
Teachers welcome the “Jester” bilingual book, Educator Enrichment Manuals and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) handouts. “Among the most effective aspects of the program have been the resources provided for all students and teachers,” reported a teacher who has spearheaded the program for several years. “We have implemented ‘The Jester’ in social studies, art, reading, speaking, listening and writing content.” Added another, “The gifted book allowed students to read the story over and over again,” she said, noting that her young readers “have increased their accurate words per minute fluency.”
We also empower low-income children by giving them a concrete way to help others without having to donate money. “The level of participation and enthusiasm in the Read-A-Thon has been phenomenal,” reported one librarian. “Most of our students are too poor to be able to purchase ‘The Jester’ for themselves, but they care deeply about others…. By offering students the opportunity to actually give something to other children through their own efforts, you enriched their lives immeasurably.”
A National Distinguished Principal reported that “Since our school is a Title I School and faces an 86% poverty index, we are working diligently to share positive experiences with the children to help them see a brighter side to life and dream big…The children were motivated with awareness, action, and altruism. This active learning experience gave us wings to soar.”
Smiles for Kids With Cancer
The Smiles for Kids With Cancer project provides a copy of David Saltzman’s uplifting “The Jester Has Lost His Jingle” picture book to children with cancer nationwide. The program’s goal is to give a copy of “The Jester” to each of the 14,900 children in the United States who will be told they have cancer in the coming year. The emotional support and messages of hope, laughter and courage found in the award-winning book have been raising the spirits of children with cancer since its release in late 1995. The project has developed a valuable network of partners at each of the more than 200 COG (Children’s Oncology Group) hospitals, university medical centers and cancer support centers across the nation as well as with over 240 other medical centers, clinics and pediatric cancer-support organizations. Having our materials as a resource for patients and families for 30 years has proven to be invaluable for doctors, nurses, child life specialists and social workers who care for the emotional and physical well-being of young patients. “Our patients and families are so happy to receive ‘The Jester Has Lost His Jingle’ in both English and Spanish,” said Rose Ovalle, Coordinator of Rady Children’s Hospital Orange County Family Resource Center. "We are always looking for opportunities to encourage early literacy, and ‘The Jester Has Lost His Jingle’ books have given this gift to our patients." We expect more medical breakthroughs to help young cancer patients in the years ahead, but there will always be a need to give children and their families hope and laughter as they cope with the challenges of cancer, both during and after treatment.
Now in its third decade, “The Jester” has imparted self-empowerment and instilled joy, resilience and perseverance among children coping with cancer. It continues to inspire children when they are diagnosed and after treatment, when 60% of survivors suffer debilitating and long-term late effects from the intensive chemotherapy, radiation and other treatments they receive.
When Kim Knight’s three-year-old daughter Kaitlin underwent surgery for kidney cancer, “We took the book home and continued to read it before she went to bed at night,” Knight said. Now 29, Kaitlin recalled that “a little light and laughter were shed when we were gifted our ‘Jester’ book. I also learned to read from the book.” As a physician assistant, she wants to help her patients “find the healing laughter hiding inside of them” with “The Jester."
CONTACT
Jester & Pharley Phund
PO Box 817
Palos Verdes Estates, California 90274