Patterson Foundation announces $250,000 gift to advance literacy Staff Report The campaign is focused on providing resources to ensure that children are reading at the appropriate level by the end of third grade, which has proven to be a key indicator of a child’s future academic success. “One of the major obstacles in the pathway out of poverty is the failure to read proficiently by the end of third grade,” a press release announcing the gift stated. “Currently, 80% of children from asset-limited families are not reaching this critical milestone.” The latest gift brings the total amount that the Patterson Foundation has contributed to the campaign to more than $1.75 million. The foundation also supports the campaign’s local affiliate, the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, which spearheads an array of early literacy initiatives in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties.