History
In 2012, San Mateo County leaders were devastated to learn that only 25% of children from low-income families were reading proficiently in third grade, a critical benchmark for lifetime success. Working together, over 300 community partners turned this collective dismay into action, launching The Big Lift, one of the most ambitious literacy projects in the nation. The Big Lift is what happens when people and institutions focus on working together to achieve dramatic social change.
Leadership
The Big Lift collaborative is led by the County of San Mateo, the San Mateo County Office of Education, and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. These three lead agencies have been working together since the mid-1990s, when they formed the Peninsula Partnership Leadership Council (PPLC). Together, they have partnered with more than 300 organizations and 450 county leaders to improve educational outcomes for children in poverty.
Executive Leadership
Carole Groom
- Former Supervisor
- County of San Mateo Board of Supervisors
