Karla Fund

What is the Karla Fund?

In the summer of 1996, the Hamilton and Stoeffler families proposed the Karla Fund to honor Karla Stoeffler Hamilton, and to continue her belief that reading to babies would foster a love of reading and promote literacy. Through the Baby Book Club of Ann Arbor and the Pediatric Department at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, the project was started and, today, provides 200 packets per month to the newborns in the Special Care Nursery and the Mother/Baby Unit of St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. In November 2010, the Karla Fund merged with Washtenaw Success by 6, and has become an important part of our organization and our literacy initiatives.

The Karla Fund supports reading to your child beginning at birth and beyond

Who Was Karla Stoeffler Hamilton?

Karla was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After receiving her degree in education from Western Michigan University, she taught elementary school in Grand Rapids, Michigan; Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; and Ann Arbor, Michigan. Karla had a great affection for children, and believed that reading to them from infancy would help them develop reading skills and provide interpersonal bonding. Karla put the idea of helping children to love reading, and appreciate books as babies, into practice with her three children, the children of family members, and her circle of friends. These children learned to associate reading with warmth, caring and the excitement of learning. Karla died in 1971 at the age of 39.

Funding for this project is provided by local organizations, foundations, and primarily from individuals interested in the objectives and activities of the Karla Fund. To make a donation, donate online using the button on the left or please send a check payable to Karla Fund to:

Washtenaw Success by 6
1819 S. Wagner Rd
Ann Arbor, MI 48103