At Operation Warm, we’re all about providing More Than a Coat. Yes, we provide warmth and confidence through essentials like coats and shoes, but our mission goes further. We want to connect families with resources that support their children in all areas of life. This month, we're thrilled to highlight FUNetix, an organization that's transforming literacy for kids across America with its 12-Hour Reading App.
Continue reading to hear directly from Mr. R. Kali Woodward, Esq., the Founding Executive Director of FUNetix, as he shares how their mission aligns with our own—giving kids the tools they need to thrive.
What is the mission of FUNetix?
Our mission is to ensure that every child in America learns to read by the end of third grade. To accomplish this, we offer the FUNetix 12-Hour Reading App, a free app available on all devices that teaches children to read in just 12 hours.
Tell us more about the FUNetix app.
FUNetix is designed like a treasure hunt, where kids embark on a journey to unlock a magic code and discover hidden treasure. Through 40 interactive modules, the app teaches reading from the ABCs to a second-grade level, using phonemic awareness and phonics to accelerate learning by 7-10 times compared to traditional methods.
How did you get into this line of work?
Twenty-one years ago, as a father of a son struggling to read, I used my background in linguistics to develop a new way to teach reading, inspired by diacritics used in languages like Arabic and Hebrew. Through this method, my son learned to read in just six weeks, which sparked a journey that led to the creation of FUNetix and the development of the 12-Hour Reading App.
What do you hope to see in literacy rates over the next five years?
I believe 97% literacy is achievable in every public school in America within 2-5 years. I often say, “If FUNetix can teach ANY child to read in 12 hours, why can’t we teach EVERY child in America to read in 12 months?” FUNetix works seamlessly with phonics-based classroom curricula, and our goal is to bring FUNetix to every school in America within the next few years.
Universal literacy would be transformative, bringing about significant social and economic benefits. It would empower millions of children, providing them with the opportunity for self-actualization while also paving the way for a brighter, more equitable future in which illiteracy is a thing of the past.
You can head here to learn more about FUNetix and download our app here.
