A child who cannot read has very few options for the future.

Only 20% of people have the education that 75% of employers want.
-Human Capital Policy Initiative, 2002

80% of incarcerated adult males lack basic literacy skills.
-Indiana Department of Corrections

38% of fourth graders in Allegheny County are not reading at grade level.
-Educational Policy and Issues Center, 2002

Children from low-income families typically enter school a full year and a half behind their middle-class peers in language ability. The average middle-class first grader has been read to more than 1,250 hours. For some children in low-income families, the comparable figure is 25 hours.
-University of Chicago

A child who has been read to from a young age:

Is better prepared to learn to read.
-National Reading Panel, 2000

Has heard more than 30 million words by age 3 and has a vocabulary of 20,000 words by age 6.
-Hart & Risley, 1995, Meaningful Differences in the Everyday Experiences of Young Children

Scores highest on reading, math, and general knowledge tests.
-Christian, Morrison, & Bryant, 1998, Predicting Kindergarten Academic Skills