If you can read this...

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Anchor Eric Halvorson shares his personal experience with Indy Reads

My mom and dad are downsizing. So, I am upsizing. I'm putting boxes of books in my basement. Dad is getting rid of books he's read over the years. I am amassing books I'm going to read, someday.

I know that whatever I don't keep -- or whenever I finish one of those books -- there's a good place to give them a new home: Indy Reads Books , downtown.

My dad's reading habits set an example for me when I was young. I tried to share the same with my son as he grew up. It worked. Now, he probably outreads me.

Travis DiNicola, the Executive Director of Indy Reads, will tell you too many children don't have such inspiration. ( See video above)

During a recent radio interview, DiNicola told me: parents who don’t read -- or who struggle with reading -- represent one of the best predictors of whether a child will stay in school. It’s “the biggest red flag there is,” he said, for identifying drop-outs. That’s why Indy Reads works so hard to help everyone learn to read – children and adults.

Adults may come to the program because they want to help with their kids’ homework – but they can’t. Or maybe they want to earn a GED and they need to improve their reading skills to do their own homework.

Living with limited literacy takes creativity.

It takes courage to stop hiding and ask for help. Before she went to Indy Reads, Sue Ward had to fight the fear of telling people she couldn't read -- especially after so much success hiding it from the people around her. ( See video above)

Indy Reads aims to end illiteracy in central Indiana.

Indy Reads addresses that challenge with its new Family Literacy Program. This is more than just teaching kids how to read. “It’s providing assistance to parents – to help them better understand how to read to and with their kids,” DiNicola says, “and understand why it’s important to read to their kids.” This program offers instruction through workshops. It also encourages learning by providing free books. The Family Literacy Program helps children by helping adults.

The workshops rely on volunteers. In fact, nearly everything Indy Reads does depends on people who share their time and talent. I know Travis and his staff would welcome others who would be willing to become reading tutors. Unfortunately, Indy Reads has more students than teachers. Even so, 2012 could be the best year ever for local literacy. The tutors are on track to teach 1300 adults this year. That would be a record.

Whenever you buy a book on the shelf of the Indy Reads Store, you'll help make sure that important work continues.

You'll also make my wife happy. Because I'll have a place to share my dad's library -- and preserve some space in our basement.