The Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) book program that serves 130 children in Sault Ste. Marie and St. Ignace is threatened by proposed federal funding cuts, reports the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Head Start program, and local program coordinators are asking the public to contact congressional representatives to ask for the funding to be reinstated in the proposed 2009 federal budget.

In Sault Ste. Marie and St. Ignace, the RIF Family of Readers program distributes books every year to children at two Head Start centers and a Head Start classroom at the Tribal Child Care Center, said Mary Green, family services coordinator for the local program.

The program's goal is to give children access to books so they are motivated to read for enjoyment and will tend to perform better at school, Ms. Green said.

RIF has established an online information center for supporters to send letters and e-mails to Congress. Visit www.RIF.org for more information.