Confidence starts with a single note
The Sing Out and Read (SOAR) mission is simple and powerful: to help struggling readers ages 6 to 12 improve their reading proficiency through singing. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), two-thirds of children nationwide fail to read at grade level. And students who aren’t reading proficiently by the end of third grade are four times more likely to drop out of school.
SOAR is working to change those statistics – one song at a time. And Raymond James is generously supporting the mission with a multiyear grant. SOAR is one of 11 nonprofits that Raymond James has funded as part of the firm’s Ready for School initiative that aims to empower students to be confident, capable learners – in and out of the classroom.
Unexpected beginnings
The founder of SOAR never set out to improve reading proficiency – it happened by accident. He originally commissioned software to help himself stay on pitch while singing lullabies to his children. But when he started allowing others to use it, he found something unexpected: the children using the program were also improving their reading scores. Literary experts from the University of South Florida studied the platform and, after five years of rigorous research, confirmed struggling readers gained one full year’s reading level in just three months of using the program.
Today, SOAR helps about 1,000 children across Pinellas and Hillsborough counties each year gain stronger reading skills and greater confidence in the classroom.
Path to proficiency
Children who join the program receive a tablet, headset and microphone; everything they need to get started. The device comes preloaded with software that guides them through singing well-known songs while displaying lyrics on the screen. “If a song comes on the radio that we haven’t heard in years, we can remember the words right away,” explains Executive Director Jay Graham. “That’s the concept the program is built on.”
As children sing along, they’re reinforcing word recognition. Each module ends with a short quiz to test comprehension. Students in second grade through sixth can participate, and the platform benchmarks each child to place them in the appropriate level. As they make progress, they move on to increasingly challenging songs. “When children go through this program and start catching up, they’ve got more confidence. They raise their hands to answer the teacher’s questions. Their parents are so proud of them, and they gain self-esteem,” says Senior Vice President, Investments, Raymond James & Associates and board member of Sing Out and Read, Jeff Hearn. “And the momentum continues.”
The program requires students to spend 900 minutes over 12 weeks – typically three 30-minute sessions per week, with a buffer built in. Each child is paired with a coach who monitors their progress and ensures there are no barriers to using the program. But one of the major advantages of SOAR is that it’s entirely self-guided. Kids simply put on their headphones, power on the tablet and start singing. When they complete the program, they get to keep the tablet, which is a fun and meaningful incentive for the children.
Impact through investment
Running the program costs about $1,500 per child, which is significantly less than other reading enhancement options. Over the past year, SOAR has invested in infrastructure and began upgrading its music catalog to modernize the experience. Growth is the goal. Graham shares, “We would love to serve more than 1,000 kids a year. People hear about the program from all over and we would like to expand our reach.”
Raymond James has played a meaningful role in supporting that growth. “The Raymond James partnership has been so valuable for us. It’s not only the financial support but the community recognition that has helped us too,” Graham says gratefully.
SOAR recently hosted a gala that raised more than $100,000. “Raymond James was a signature sponsor; we’ve really been a superb partner these last couple of years,” Hearn says proudly.
The nonprofit also benefits from a generous matching program from the Hough Family Foundation, which pledges to match all donations up to $200,000; that means Raymond James’ gift has been able to make an even bigger impact. William Hough, well-known in the Tampa Bay communitycontinues to support causes that strengthen local education through his family foundation.
For Graham, the mission is deeply personal: “My daughter had a reading issue when she was younger, so I know how it affects the whole family. When we were able to find a program that helped her, I saw her self-esteem and confidence flourish. My passion for Sing Out and Read comes from my own experience. I can relate to the need and the importance of helping children to read.”
Through innovation, community partnerships and the simple joy of singing, SOAR is giving children the confidence they need to become stronger readers with brighter futures.
Unless noted, Raymond James is not affiliated with any organizations or individuals mentioned