In 1967, Earl Martin Phalen was born into the foster care system.

70% of his African-American male peers in foster care ended up in jail.

As the result of being adopted by George and Veronica Phalen, and their passion for reading and education, he graduated from Yale University and Harvard Law School.

Having witnessed the transformative power of education and family involvement, he has dedicated the past 20 years of his life to expanding the life opportunities of children through learning and academic engagement.

Phalen is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Reach Out and Read and Founder of Summer Advantage USA.

Reach Out and Read is comprised of 30,000 pediatricians in 4,535 hospitals across the nation. Pediatricians "prescribe reading time" to 3.9 million children annually. Children impacted by Reach Out and Read show a 6 month developmental edge over their peers by preschool and score higher on language skills assessments.

It is one of the few literary nonprofits that impact 35% of all low income mothers and infants in the United States.

(Reach Out and Read doctor with patients)

Phalen is also the Founder of Summer Advantage USA.

Recognized by the White House initiative United We Serve, Summer Advantage USA engages thousands of children each summer in research based academic programs.

In August of 2010, Summer Advantage USA was recognized by the Indiana Department of Education for dramatically impacting school district performance and student test scores.

Prior to his current endeavors, Phalen led BELL, a summer and after school learning program that grew from 15 children at one site to over 17,000 scholars in five states.

In July of 2010, he was recognized by the entertainment industry with the BET Spirit of Service Award.

Earl Martin Phalen's work and expertise has also been noted by ABC World News, Time Magazine, a Governor and two U.S. Presidents.

He was the Co–Chair of Governor Deval Patrick's Education Task Force, an education advisor to President Obama's campaign and received the Presidential Service Award from President Bill Clinton. A contributor to the Huffington Post and former presenter at the National Press Club, he is the uncle to 31 nieces and nephews.